[themaclad]

Oxford United
Deepdale 15.00hrs 4/1/2025

https://www.oufc.co.uk/

MANAGER



Gary Rowett (born 6 March 1974) is an English professional football manager and former player who is head coach of EFL Championship club Oxford United.

As a player, he was a defender, and played in the Premier League for Everton, Derby County, Leicester City and Charlton Athletic. He also played in the Football League for Cambridge United, Blackpool, Birmingham City and Burton Albion. His professional career ended in 2004, through a knee injury.

In May 2009, he was appointed assistant manager to Paul Peschisolido at Burton, and took over as manager in 2012. He was appointed the manager of Birmingham City in October 2014 and served until December 2016. He became Derby County manager in March 2017, and joined Stoke City in May 2018. After failing to mount a promotion challenge, he was sacked in January 2019 and was appointed manager of Millwall that October, before leaving by mutual consent four years later. He rejoined Birmingham City in March 2024 as interim manager until the end of the season. In December 2024, he joined Oxford United.

WE HAVE NEVER BEATEN A GARY ROWETT TEAM

HOT SHOTS SORT OFF



LAST TIME OUT





FORM GUIDE

PNE 7 OXFORD 11

OTHER CHAMPO STUFF




The Fitness Test

There were a few players struggling with illness during the week, including Andrew Hughes who missed the defeat to West Brom, so they will need to be assessed ahead of Saturday.

Brad Potts has been absent for the previous two fixtures through injury and is likely to be sidelined again this weekend, as is Robbie Brady who’s suffered a rib injury.

Ryan Ledson came off the bench in the last outing and got himself on the scoresheet, so he’ll be hoping to force his way into the starting XI against his former employers.

The U’s


Oxford United recently made the decision to part ways with their promotion-winning head coach Des Buckingham and in his place came Gary Rowett.

That’s a change which has already worked wonders for the U’s who have won three matches in a row and they now find themselves five points clear of the drop.

Rowett has unsurprisingly been pleased with the results he’s managed to get out of his team so far and he’ll be hoping for more of the same at Deepdale where he’s never lost as a manager.

Referee: Ben Toner
Assistant Referee: Mark Russell
Assistant Referee: Sam Lewis
Fourth Official: Thomas Kirk

Ben Toner will referee his first ever North End fixture on Saturday.

Toner, who has been refereeing in the EFL since 2015, has shown 113 yellow cards and four reds in 22 matches so far this season.

MACS VIEW

New defender signed after Wednesday no surprise, tough game this against Oxford three wins on the bounce for the side whose ground has one end a car park.
Be interesting to see who doesn't play tomorrow