Oxford United welcome Stockport County to the Kassam Stadium on 27 October 2026 for a rearranged League One fixture with real weight in the promotion picture. The game was originally due in early October but got pushed back because of international call-ups. Oxford sit seventh after ten games with 19 points, whereas Stockport are second after twelve matches with 23 points, both sides unbeaten across their last six or seven outings.
Aaron Ramsey took charge at Oxford on 23 June 2026, replacing Matt Bloomfield, while Jimmy McNulty was appointed at Stockport on 5 June 2026 following Dave Challinor's departure. Neither has faced the other in a dugout before, so there is no managerial history to factor in.
Oxford come in unbeaten across seven league games, their most recent a 0-0 home draw against Bradford City on 24 October, before which they beat Wigan Athletic 2-1 around 20 October. Stockport have also stayed unbeaten in their last six but dropped two points at Notts County on 24 October and have played four games in eleven days, meaning McNulty faces real selection decisions going into this.
Oxford are without significant defensive cover. Jamie McDonnell is out until the new year with a hamstring injury, Ruben Roosken misses the entire season and Frankie Kent is sidelined with a cruciate problem, while Jeon Jin-woo is doubtful with a back issue and seems unlikely to feature. Stockport have their own concerns at the back, with Ryan Rydel out through an undisclosed injury and Brad Hills unavailable after a cruciate ligament problem.
Mark Harris leads Oxford's attack with around four goals, with Cameron Brannagan and Tyler Goodrham operating through the middle alongside him. Kyle Wootton is the sharper threat up front, leading League One with around nine goals to Jack Diamond's four and Oliver Norwood drives Stockport's play from midfield. The straight running battle between Wootton and Oxford's makeshift back line is the obvious pressure point, though the defensive absences on both sides shape this game as much as the strikers do.
Oxford have drawn four and won one of the last five league meetings between the sides, with Stockport historically struggling to create clear chances at the Kassam Stadium.
Oxford's injury situation makes dead ball situations a more obvious route to goal than usual and with Rydel and Hills both missing from Stockport's defensive line, they could be more exposed at corners and free kicks than they would normally be.
The injury lists on both sides and four draws in the last five meetings point toward a 1-1. Oxford at home have the discipline to frustrate Stockport but if Stockport go a goal down, Wootton or Diamond are well placed to pull one back. Four of the last five meetings ended level and nothing about this fixture suggests a departure from that pattern.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
