Match Pack: Saints vs Oxford United
It's the second instalment of a St Mary's doubleheader, as Southampton look to build on Wednesday night's win over Norwich. Get clued up as the promotion race continues with our Match Pack...
THE MATCH
Southampton vs Oxford United
Sky Bet Championship
St Mary’s Stadium
Saturday 21st March, 3pm GMT
THE OFFICIALS
Referee: Ben Toner
Assistants: Conor Brown and Mark Dwyer
Fourth Official: Sam Mulhall
THE KITS
Saints will be in their traditional home colours of red-and-white-striped shirts, black shorts and white socks. The visitors will be in their home kit of yellow shirts, navy blue shorts and yellow socks.
TICKETS
Saturday's encounter is our Junior Takeover, with discounts available for group bookings. The fixture is also on general sale:
LIVE COVERAGE
Saints Play match passes are available to supporters outside of the UK.
THE PROGRAMME
The matchday programme is available to order online, as well as from the various sellers around St Mary’s.
This double edition will be the same publication that covered Wednesday's win over Norwich – that’s two in one for the usual price of £4.
Inside you’ll find a feature interview with Cameron Bragg, who reveals some of the ups and downs during his journey from the Academy to the first team, while there’s also Tonda Eckert’s notes, the latest from our Women’s team, and the lowdown on the U's.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Wednesday night's win over in-form Norwich saw Saints rise into the play-off spots for the first time since the opening weekend of the season.
Now 13 unbeaten in all competitions, Tonda Eckert's side will want to head into the international break on a high and with the potential to climb up to fifth if results elsewhere go their way.
At the other end of the table, the U's are battling to retain their Championship status for a third straight season. The visitors are four unbeaten and within a point of safety, so will head to the south coast full of belief themselves.
TEAM NEWS
Saints: There's no fresh injury concerns for Saints to contend with, having come through Wednesday night unscathed.
Jay Robinson and Welington remain sidelined alongside Mads Roerslev, while Ross Stewart and Leo Scienza returned to training on Friday and could potentially return to the matchday squad.
Oxford United: Brian De Keersmaecker and Tyler Goodrham are likely to miss the remainder of the season, while Myles Peart-Harris missed last weekend's draw with Charlton.
Przemysław Płacheta will be an option on Saturday after making his return from a five-game absence last time out.
THE MANAGERS
Tonda Eckert: "Focus on the job. We know what we need to do tomorrow to win and need to do it.
[They're a] good team [Oxford].Only a couple of minutes missing in their last game to make it four wins in a row, so we know that they are coming in good form. We’ve had this now in the last games that we’ve always faced teams that are full of confidence, was the same on Wednesday and the same the weekend before, so we know what to expect. They do have some moments where they can hurt you if you're not awake, so will be a challenging game for us."
Matt Bloomfield: "It’s really exciting for us to go to a new ground and to be followed in such incredible numbers. And I hope we can do those guys proud and I hope they have a good afternoon.
"We’ve been really fortunate since I’ve been here, they’ve just been fantastic support and really got behind the lads and we hope that we can give them an afternoon to enjoy again on Saturday."
ONES TO WATCH
Finn Azaz: The Irishman's winning goal in midweek took him to 10 for the season, making him the joint-highest scoring midfielder in the Championship.
Saints' creative spark, Azaz will want to build on Wednesday night's heroics and head into the international break on a high as he joins up with the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of their massive World Cup play-off encounters.
Will Lankshear: The Tottenham loanee has been integral in Oxford's recent unbeaten run, with two goals and an assist in the last four games.
Winning a penalty against Charlton last time out, the 20-year-old will pose the U's biggest attacking threat on Saturday.
TOP SCORERS
Saints
Goals:
Azaz 10
Manning, Scienza, Stewart 6
Harwood-Bellis, Matsuki 5
Assists:
Scienza 8
Azaz 6
Fellows 5
Oxford United
Goals:
Lankshear 9
Brannagan 5
Mills, Brown, Płacheta 3
Assists:
De Keersmaecker 5
Mills, Helik, Brannagan 3
Lankshear 2
FORM GUIDE
Saints
Norwich (h) SBC: W 1-0 (Azaz)
Coventry (a) SBC: W 1-2 (Downes, Matsuki)
West Brom (a) SBC: D 1-1 (Larin)
Fulham (a) FAC: W 0-1 (Stewart)
Sheffield Wednesday (a) SBC: W 1-3 (Bree, Manning, Harwood-Bellis)
Oxford United
Charlton (a) SBC: D 1-1 (Brannagan)
Blackburn (h) SBC: W 1-0 (Donley)
Preston (a) SBC: W 3-1 (Helik, Lankshear, Brown)
West Brom (h) SBC: W 2-1 (Mills, Lankshear)
Stoke (a) SBC: L 1-2 (Brown)
HEAD TO HEAD
Played: 16
Saints wins: 9
Draws: 4
Oxford wins: 3
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
Dec 2025: Oxford 2-1 Saints Championship (Harwood-Bellis)
Dec 1996: Saints 3-2 Oxford League Cup (Dryden, Østenstad, Berkovic)
Nov 1996: Saints 1-1 Oxford League Cup (Dryden)
Jan 1990: Saints 1-0 Oxford FA Cup (Ruddock)
Apr 1988: Oxford 0-0 Saints Division One
KEEP UP TO DATE
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