Preston have won only one of their last 10 matches
Oxford are averaging just 0.89 goals per match in the Championship this season
Recommended bet: Draw
Preston’s promotion hopes have taken a huge dent following a dismal run that has seen them accrue just two points in their last four matches and they now languish in 11th position in the Championship table, eight points adrift of the play-off zone.
Oxford have found life tough in the Championship since they were promoted from League One in 2024, and manager Matt Bloomfield must use all his experience to prevent the U's from being relegated, but they currently sit in 23rd place, three points from safety.
Finding the net has been difficult for both teams, and a low-scoring encounter looks on the cards.
The latest Preston vs Oxford odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Team news
Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom could reshuffle his pack in a bid to end a disappointing run, and Daniel Jebbison or Lewis Dobbin might make way for Milutin Osmajic up front.
Brian De Keersmaecker, Jamie McDonnell and Tyler Goodrham are still sidelined for Oxford, while the absence of attacking midfielder Przemyslaw Placheta is also a blow.
The stats
Oxford have been drawing at half-time in their last four away matches in the Championship.
Only Birmingham have drawn more games than Preston at home in the second tier this season.
Preston have scored just one goal in their last three matches and North End have won only twice at home this year.
Oxford have won only one of their last five matches against Preston.
The U's have won just once in their last eight matches.
The latest Preston vs Oxford odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
When the teams met at the Kassam Stadium in December, Preston were riding high in third place and demonstrated their superiority over Oxford with a 2-1 away win.
However, that promotion charge has stalled this year, and in the aftermath of a 2-0 home defeat against free-scoring Millwall, manager Heckingbottom stated he had "no complaints" about his side's loss, suggesting Preston are no more than a mid-table proposition at the moment.
Oxford have a distinct lack of firepower, and Bloomfield's strategy on the road has been to frustrate the home team with solid defending.
This worked against Coventry and Middlesbrough last month, when the promotion candidates were both held to 0-0 draws at home, despite Oxford having only 25 per cent of the possession against the latter team.
A victory at home to struggling West Brom last Saturday raised Oxford's hopes of survival, but there is no denying they lack quality in this division and victory at Deepdale is hard to imagine (they have not won there since 1983).
However, they possess the determination to scrap for points and may just stymie a Preston team low on confidence.
Oxford have been drawing at half-time in their last four away matches, and there is a good chance they can extend this statistic.
The longer Preston go without breaking the deadlock the more frustrated they will become, and that might be enough to see Oxford come away with a point.
