Oxford vs Peterborough tips and predictions: Posh can avenge recent humbling in play-off clash
- George Dempsey
- 2 May 2024
We’re backing Peterborough United to bounce back from their recent 5-0 defeat against Oxford United with victory in the play-offs on Saturday night (1945 BST).
Oxford United and Peterborough will meet as equals in the League One play-offs less than one month after the U’s thrashed Posh 5-0 at the Kassam Stadium.
The same venue will play host to fourth against fifth on Saturday night after Darren Ferguson’s side fell short in their automatic promotion push.
A torrid week in February and some costly slips down the stretch, namely a 3-1 home defeat to Carlisle and the collapse in Oxfordshire, saw them struggle to keep pace with Derby.
Still, that shouldn’t affect the mood in camp too much, as Ferguson’s side must have come to terms with their diminishing chances weeks before their play-off place was confirmed.
On the other hand, too much is being made of United’s late-season flourish. Des Buckingham’s side navigated some tricky fixtures to win six of 10 and make the cut by three points.
Form sides often fare well in the postseason, but they haven’t been formidable. Oxford averaged 2.45 points through 11 games, 1.95 until Christmas and 1.60 since.
They’ve not exactly been prolific at home, either, recording six wins in 17 matches and surrendering the lead 10 times to drop valuable points.
Posh will be keen to avenge the recent humbling suffered here and they’re the sort of team who keep plucking away, so we struggle to see United pulling away in either leg.
Joel Randall, Kwame Poku, Jonson Clarke-Harris and Ricky Jade-Jones have found the net at least 10 times this season, while Mark Harris, Cameron Branagan and Tyler Goodrham have done likewise for the hosts.
This should be a thoroughly entertaining tie with no shortage of goals, but we’ll happily back the visitors to score more over two legs.
