Oxford City v Northampton: FA Cup predictions, betting preview & TV details

Free football tips, best bets, analysis and predictions for Oxford City v Northampton in the FA Cup first round on Monday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 7.45pm Monday

Best bet

Northampton
2pts 5-6 Coral, Hills, Ladbrokes

Team news

Oxford City
Manager David Oldfield has said there are a few knocks in his squad but he expects to have a fully-fit squad to choose from.

Northampton
Scott Pollock and Joseph Mills are long-term absentees but Ricky Holmes, who rejoined the Cobblers last week, may be handed his first start.

Match preview

The BT Sport cameras have pinpointed Northampton’s FA Cup first-round trip to National League South side Oxford City as a potential giantkilling, but Keith Curle’s Cobblers are well up to the challenge of avoiding an early exit.

Northampton reached the fourth round of this competition last season and they avoided a potential banana skin at the first hurdle as they were decisive 3-0 winners at Chippenham, who finished level on points with Oxford City in the National League South last term.

The Cobblers followed that with victories over Notts County and Burton before taking Championship Derby to a fourth-round replay. They should be confident of teeing up another fruitful cup run at the expense of David Oldfield’s Hoops.

Northampton, who were promoted to League One last season with a playoff final victory over Cheltenham at Wembley, are three levels higher than Oxford City in the footballing pyramid and that gulf in class should tell at Court Place Farm.

Charlie Goode, Jordan Turnbull and Vadaine Oliver are notable departures from last season’s line-up, but there is greater depth to Curle’s squad these days with 13 summer arrivals bolstering the competition in the Cobblers’ ranks.

Northampton have collected only 11 points from as many League One assignments, but the huge overhaul in personnel can be some excuse for their sloppy start.

That said, Northampton have registered positive results in three of their last five league outings, with wins over Swindon and Wigan suggesting third-tier survival is well within their reach.

This is likely to be more of a physical battle than Northampton encounter on a weekly basis but that should play to the strengths of the Cobblers, who are tactically versatile and well suited to going direct with 6ft 5in Harry Smith a likely candidate to lead the line.

That approach was a key factor in Northampton’s promotion last season and they are well equipped to cope with whatever is thrown at them by Oxford City, who conceded in all three of their FA Cup qualifiers against Royal Wootton, Tamworth and Weymouth.

National League side Solihull Moors were 5-1 winners at Marsh Lane in the first round of the FA Cup last season and Northampton should also stamp their authority against their lesser-ranked opponents.

Key stat

Both teams have scored in each of Oxford City's last five FA Cup ties.

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