PREVIEW: Oxford United vs Leeds United

Top-of-the-table Leeds United are the visitors to the Kassam Stadium on Good Friday (8:00pm kick off) live on Sky TV for Oxford's penultimate Championship home game of the season.

Apart from a pre-season friendly in July 2018, this is Leeds' first visit to the Kassam Stadium, and their first visit to Oxford since January 1994. United have played Leeds five times at home, winning three and drawing one of those games.

OXFORD UNITED

The U's will be without defender Ciaron Brown, who injured his knee ligaments against Queens Park Rangers last week, for the rest of the season. Right back Hidde ter Avest, who had to go off in the same game with concussion, is a doubt. Captain Elliott Moore may be back in contention.

Peter Kioso, who missed Saturday's trip to Hillsborough through illness, could be included in the squad and will be vying with Sam Long to play right back should ter Avest be unable to play.

LEEDS UNITED

The Whites will be without former Oxford midfielder Joe Rothwell, while Pascal Struijk is out for the rest of the season with a foot fracture. However, Dan James, who missed last Saturday's win over Preston with a hamstring injury, could be involved, although it is more likely to be against Stoke City on Monday than against Oxford.

Speaking ahead of the game, Leeds Head Coach Daniel Farke told leedsunited.com: “Impressive three wins in the last five games. An impressive win against Watford, also with a clean sheet away, and at Sheffield Wednesday, also with a clean sheet, so it's not easy to score goals against them.

“Gary Rowett is a very, very experienced manager. He knows this league inside and out. He knows how to make sure that his team is competitive and they're also well-structured, also against the ball.

“It's not easy to create chances against them, not even speaking about scoring against them. So three of their last five opponents missed scoring, so it will be difficult.

“A team who is, especially in their home games, always competitive. I'm pretty sure they will play with good confidence and also with a big will to win, perhaps the final one or three points that they perhaps need to stay in this league. The challenge is big and it's a tough place to go, especially at this stage of the season.” 

COMMUNITY MATCHDAY

The work of Oxford United’s official charity will be celebrated on Friday as the club hosts its Community Matchday and shines a light on the role football has in transforming lives. 

Founded in 1989, Oxford United in the Community operates as a registered charity and uses the power of football and the U’s badge to inspire happier, healthier and better-connected communities across the county. 
 
Every ticket purchased for the game will prompt a £1 donation from the club to the charity in support of its life-enhancing and life-changing programmes, which are delivered to people of all ages, backgrounds and experiences. 

As part of the celebrations, the charity has teamed up with Football on the Brain to deliver an interactive pre-match pop-up stall for fans to find out how our brains control muscles, drive emotions and help develop skills both on and off the pitch. 

There is also information on how U’s fans can sign-up as a friend of the charity for £5 per month and support its work to inspire people to become the best version of themselves. Fans that sign-up will be entered into quarterly draws to win exclusive Oxford United prizes, including Icons Restaurant hospitality packages, training ground tours, tickets and signed shirts. 

For further information about Oxford United in the Community and to become a friend of the charity, visit www.ouitc.org.

CLUB SHOP

The Oxford United Club Shop will have new opening times for Friday's fixture. The shop will open at 1:00pm and will close at kick-off.

TICKETS AND TRAVEL

General Admission tickets have SOLD OUT for the game. The Ticket Exchange is now open for any Season Ticket Holders who cannot attend.

CLICK HERE for ticket availability...

There are 2,000 free parking spaces at the stadium, but they do tend to fill up quickly, so please try to arrive early if you intend to park there. Remember, parking is only free from 4:00pm - four hours before kick-off. There are also marked parking bays along Grenoble Road to the east of the ground. Do not park on the grass verges or in the restricted areas in the nearby residential streets.

The gate behind the Planet IT North Stand will be closed before and after the game, meaning no pedestrian access between the east and west car parks via that route.

Motorcyclists are advised that parking is permitted again at the southeast bike rack area. Supporters should enter via the east car park entrance and use the left-hand side of this area. If this area is full, please use the northeast parking area and do not park on the road. Supporters parking in the southeast corner will be subject to the 20-minute hold post-final whistle on all traffic movement in this area.

Please note that Stagecoach has a new route that operates between Redbridge Park & Ride and Thornhill Park & Ride that runs every half hour on Saturdays, stopping outside the Kassam Stadium in both directions. See the timetable HERE.