Pompey will look to keep their good start to the season going with a result at the Kassam Stadium tomorrow.
Team News
Adam Webster is available again after serving his suspension but Alex Wynter and Patrick Agyemang are still sidelined along with long-term casualties Danny East, Tom Craddock and Wes Fogden.
Michael Appleton has no new injury concerns with Andy Whing and Ryan Clarke unavailable. Dave Kitson has retired and so won't line up against his former team.
The Match
Obviously, the big talking point before this game is going to be what kind of reception Michael Appleton is going to get after he walked out on the club despite numerous claims that he was going to tough out what was a very difficult job.
The man himself doesn't know but he'll no doubt be on the receiving end of some mild booing. Once that's out of the way there's the small matter of a football match to be won.
Appleton's poor managerial record has followed him to Oxford where he has lost his first three league matches. If Pompey are to be serious promotion challengers then they must overcome the "sod's law" which suggests that Oxford will win this game simply because of the ex-Pompey manager's record that could well see him win his first league match against the club where he began his management career.
We have also seen just how strong Portsmouth are at Fratton Park but can this team win away from home? Another three points tomorrow will be further proof of Pompey's promotion credentials.
Just who Andy Awford selects is anyone's guess after he rotated the team on Tuesday whilst dropping the so-called better players in the team. The wing back system seems to be working well, though, and away from home Pompey could be even more effective on the counter-attack.
A draw wouldn't be the worst result in the world and it may bring a few Pompey fans who are getting carried away back down to earth but there is a sense of optimism around the club for the first time since 2008 and so the Blues have every right to think that their team can beat pointless Oxford tomorrow.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Oxford
GK: George LONG
RB: Joe RILEY
CB: Johnny MULLINS
CB: Jake WRIGHT
LB: Tom NEWEY
RM: Danny ROSE
CM: Junior BROWN
CM: Michael COLLINS
LM: Josh RUFFELS
CF: Danny HYLTON
CF: Carlton MORRIS
Pompey
GK: Paul JONES
RWB: Adam WEBSTER
CB: Paul ROBINSON
CB: Ben CHORLEY
CB: Jack WHATMOUGH
LWB: Nicky SHOREY
CM: James DUNNE
CM: Danny HOLLANDS
CM: Nigel ATANGANA
CF: Ryan TAYLOR
CF: Craig WESTCARR
Last Time: Oxford United 0 Portsmouth 0 (League Two - 11/01/2014)
Oxford and Pompey played out a goalless draw with barely any noteworthy shots in one of the most boring games of football ever played.
My Prediction
It's difficult to guess which team Awford will pick but they should be good enough to beat an Oxford side which look like they're going to struggle this season.
Oxford United 1 Portsmouth 2