Oxford v Rochdale preview
Thursday 26 April 2018 22:03, UK
Full-back Ricardinho is unlikely to start again this season for Oxford, who face Rochdale in League One on Saturday.
The 33-year-old has a clause in his contract whereby one more start would trigger an automatic one-year extension. Manager Karl Robinson has not ruled out giving Ricardinho a new deal but wants the decision to be on his terms.
James Henry will hope his winner against Doncaster, which all-but secured League One football for next season, is enough to secure a starting place, while Rob Hall could also come into contention following his long injury lay-off. Captain Curtis Nelson is being eased back in slowly after returning from a ruptured Achilles, so may have to settle for a place on the bench again.
Rochdale top-scorer Ian Henderson serves the final game of his four-match ban following his sending off against Peterborough earlier this month. Joe Rafferty and Matty Gillam will both hope to force their way into the starting line-up after playing the second half of Tuesday's draw with Plymouth, when Jim McNulty also had to settle for a place on the bench.
The point was enough to lift Dale out of the bottom three for the first time since December, and they head into the weekend above the relegation zone on goal difference. Midfielder Keith Keane (groin) and defenders Andy Cannon (fractured cheekbone) and Niall Canavan (ankle) all remain sidelined.
Opta stats
Oxford have lost only one of their last seven home league games against the Dale (W4 D2), a 1-0 defeat in November 2004.
Rochdale are winless and goalless in the last three matches between these two teams (D1 L2) since a 3-0 win in March 2014.
The U's have won two of their last three league games (L1), as many as they managed in their previous 14 matches.
After failing to win any of their first 14 league games away from home this season, the Dale have won five of their last eight on the road (D1 L2), including four of their last five without conceding a goal in those four wins.
Braden Inman has registered six assists in league games for Rochdale in 2018, no player has managed more since the turn of the year in League One.
