• Oxford’s new head coach Matt Bloomfield takes charge of his first match

• Bristol City are 10th in the Championship, two points outside the play-offs

• Recommended bet: Bristol City to win to nil

Matt Bloomfield has taken over as Oxford’s head coach with 21 games to save them from relegation. The U’s are 23rd in the Championship, three points from safety.

Gary Rowett was sacked just before Christmas after a run of one win in 10 matches. Interim boss Craig Short won his first game, 2-1 at home to Southampton, but lost his next two in the league.

His spell ended with an FA Cup win on penalties away to League Two side MK Dons, earning a home tie against Sunderland in the fourth round.

Bristol City also progressed in the FA Cup with a thumping 5-1 home win over fellow promotion contenders Watford. The Robins will visit League One side Port Vale in the next round.

Gerhard Struber’s side have work to do on their away form and need to capitalise on this opportunity in order to strengthen their promotion push.

Team news

Oxford have made moves to add more quality to their squad this month, bringing in midfielders Jamie Donley from Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford's Myles Peart-Harris, both on loan for the rest of the season.

Cameron Brannagan, club captain and midfield linchpin, returned in the FA Cup after seven weeks on the sidelines and should start again after playing 65 minutes last weekend.

Emil Riis is in contention for a starting place up front for Bristol City after his FA Cup hat-trick against Watford last weekend.

Experienced midfielder Sam Morsy, recently picked up as a free agent, could also retain his place after making his first start against Watford.

The latest Oxford vs Bristol City odds are available on LiveScore Bet

The stats

Oxford have won only three of their 12 home league games.

Both teams have scored in four of the U’s last five home games.

Oxford striker Will Lankshear has scored in his last two appearances.

Nine of Bristol City’s 11 league wins have been against teams in the bottom half.

The Robins have scored on six of their last eight away trips.

The visitors have lost four of their last seven on the road.

The latest Oxford vs Bristol City odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

Oxford won the reverse fixture 3-1 at Ashton Gate in September but that was a rare highlight in a season of struggle.

The U’s have won only five out of 25 in the Championship and one of those was against rock-bottom Sheffield Wednesday.

The standout victory was 2-1 at home to Ipswich in late November, despite having only 27 per-cent of the possession.

However, the U’s are often competitive at the Kassam Stadium. They have lost by more than a single goal in just one of their 12 home games and have drawn with Coventry and Middlesbrough, the current top two.

Any hint of new manager bounce for Matt Bloomfield will give the hosts a reasonable chance.

Bristol City can appear to blow hot and cold, with eight wins and eight defeats in their last 18 league games.

However, their underlying form is strong against bottom-half opponents with nine wins and just two defeats out of 13.

Struber’s side have won five out of six on the road against that level of opposition.

The visitors have to be strong favourites. Seven of their last nine wins have been to nil and that could be the outcome again.

Back Bristol City to win to nil at 13/5 with LiveScore Bet

The latest Oxford vs Bristol City odds are available on LiveScore Bet