Oxford United vs Preston North End Prediction: Both teams have three in three

Oxford United welcome Preston North End to Kassam Stadium in Game Week 4 of the English Championship. Both teams come into this with three points from three games so far this season in the Championship. Who gets the nod after 90 minutes?

Although Oxford have been defeated in two of their opening three Championship encounters, manager Des Buckingham will be pleased with how his side have performed in the second tier. Defeats came on the road at Coventry City and at home to Blackburn Rovers, both coming through late goals in 3-2 and 2-1 defeats accordingly. Oxford were also beaten a second time this season by Coventry, this time in the EFL Cup, albeit by a solitary goal. Buckingham will be pleased to return back home at the Kassam Stadium after sometime away, having taken easy wins against Norwich City and Peterborough United earlier this campaign.

Cumming; Kioso, Long, Brown, Bennett; Vaulks; Phillips, Rodrigues, Mizouni, Goodrham; Harris

For Preston North End, the fans should be brimming with hope since Paul Heckingbottom has started the managerial role at the club quite decently so far and has ushered some sort of stability into the club. They started off quite promisingly as they defeated Luton Town 1-0, which was followed by an emphatic result of 5-0 against Harrogate Town in the EFL Cup.

Sam Greenwood and Milan Osmajic got all five goals as the stars in the EFL Cup clash and will now aim to carry their goal-scoring form into league fixtures.

In the league, they have lost seven on the spin and failed to find the back of the net prior to the Luton game. Furthermore, the last time they tasted success on the road was back on March 16th, and will be keen to change that under the watchful eyes of Heckingbottom.

Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; Potts, Thordarson, Whiteman, Frokjaer-Jensen, Kesler-Hayden; Keane, Riis

Such has been the good performance, Oxford manager John Buckingham may also have a decision to make with Elliott Moore and Cameron Brannagan expected to come back fit following injury. It's not out of the question that Buckingham could name the same team as Matt Phillips and Tyler Goodrham did enough to maybe keep Malcolm Ebiowei on the bench.

Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom also has decisions to make following impressive displays from Sam Greenwood and Milan Osmajic against Harrogate. The big question is whether he will throw them straight into the starting XI or retain his existing attacking options. A switch back to a three-man defense is possible, yet both Emil Riis and Will Keane have reason for keeping their spots within a two-man attack.

Heckingbottom will have been delighted by Preston's bright opening game against Luton, but Oxford might prove a different proposition at the Kassam. This has the makings of another tight game, and a low-scoring draw is a plausible outcome. Take a double bet on the away side.