27th Aug. England League Cup---Oxford United VS Brighton Hove Albion Prediction
England League Cup - Oxford United VS Brighton Hove Albion
Match Time:28-08-2025 02:45 Thursday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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Team Reviews
Oxford United are coming into this EFL Cup second-round match at Kassam Stadium on a tough run. The Championship side, managed by Gary Rowett, have lost three of their four competitive matches this season, including a 1-0 defeat to Birmingham City in their latest league outing. Their only win was a narrow 1-0 victory over Colchester United in the EFL Cup first round, with Tyler Goodrham scoring the decisive goal. Offensively, they’ve managed just three goals across all competitions, with Cameron Brannagan leading the charge with one goal and Goodrham providing a key assist. Defensively, they’ve been relatively solid in the cup, keeping a clean sheet against Colchester, but they’ve conceded five goals in four matches overall, averaging 1.25 per game. Injuries to Ciaron Brown, Luke Harris, and Ole Romeny are a concern, and Nik Prelec’s fitness is in doubt, which could limit their options. Despite the home advantage, Oxford’s inconsistent form puts them under pressure to deliver against a Premier League side.
Brighton & Hove Albion, under Fabian Hürzeler, are still searching for their first win of the 2025/26 season after a 1-1 draw with Fulham and a 2-0 loss to Everton in the Premier League. Their attack has been led by Matt O’Riley, who scored their only goal so far, while their defense has conceded three goals in two matches. Brighton’s away form is a worry, with no wins on the road this season, though their squad depth and quality remain superior to Oxford’s. They’re dealing with a lengthy injury list, including Adam Webster (ACL), Tariq Lamptey (ankle), Julio Enciso (knee), Tom Watson (unknown), and Solly March (knee surgery), which may force Hürzeler to rotate the squad. Expect players like Danny Welbeck and Kaoru Mitoma to feature, bringing pace and creativity. Brighton’s focus might be split with a looming Premier League clash against Manchester City, but they’ll aim to avoid a second-round cup upset, something they haven’t suffered since 2018.
Head to Head
Oxford United and Brighton have faced off sparingly due to their different league standings, with only three meetings since 2005. Brighton hold a slight edge, winning two of these, including a 4-2 victory in the EFL Cup in August 2016 at Kassam Stadium. Oxford won the other match, but their last victory over Brighton was back in the lower tiers. These games have typically been high-scoring, averaging over three goals, with both teams scoring in most encounters. Oxford’s home record against Brighton is mixed, but their loss in the 2016 cup tie highlights Brighton’s ability to capitalize in this competition.
Prediction
Brighton’s Premier League quality and attacking options should see them through, despite their slow start and injury concerns. I’m predicting a 2-1 win for Brighton, with their rotated squad likely to edge out Oxford, who may nick a goal through Goodrham or Brannagan but struggle to match Brighton’s depth. Brighton’s win probability is around 65%, factoring in their superior squad and Oxford’s current struggles. Watch for Brighton’s wing play, especially Mitoma, to stretch Oxford’s defense, and expect a few goals given the head-to-head trend.
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