Oxford v Newcastle: FA Cup fourth-round replay preview, free tip & TV details

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Oxford United v Newcastle United in an FA Cup fourth-round replay.

Where to watch

BBC1, 8.05pm Tuesday

Best bet

Newcastle
2pts 11-10 Betway, Coral, Sky Bet
Back this tip with Coral

Team news

Oxford
On-loan Derby midfielder George Thorne (shoulder) made his return as a late substitute on Saturday. James Henry (thigh) is out and Anthony Forde (ribs) could return at the weekend.

Newcastle
Andy Carroll (knock), Paul Dummett (Achilles), Jetro Willems, Jack Colback (both knee), Yoshinori Muto (hip), Jonjo Shelvey (muscle injury) and Emil Krafth (ankle) are unavailable. Danny Rose and Valentino Lazaro are ineligible.

Match preview

Newcastle failed to justify odds-on status when drawing 0-0 with Oxford on Tyneside but look decent value to win the replay at the Kassam Stadium.

The Magpies needed two games to get past Rochdale in the third round and it is slightly concerning that they are finding it difficult to overcome another Sky Bet League One opponent.

Steve Bruce was critical of his team after the goalless draw against Oxford, although Newcastle were the stronger side, bossing 62 per cent of possession and winning the shot count 15-8.

They might have an easier task in the replay because of Oxford's decision to sell two key players - midfielder Shandon Baptiste and attacker Tarique Fosu - to Brentford on transfer deadline day.

Fosu is Oxford's second-top league scorer with eight league goals despite playing in a wide position but the bigger loss could be Baptiste, who was described by his manager, Karl Robinson, as 'one of the most prized assets outside the top flight.'

Oxford began life without the pair with a 2-1 victory at home to Blackpool, leaving them three points outside the playoffs.

But it was not an entirely convincing performance against a struggling Blackpool side, who haven't won in eight games.

Losing Fosu and Baptiste makes it more difficult for Oxford to gain promotion and less likely to finish the job against Newcastle.

Oxford are further weakened by an injury to their 11-goal top scorer James Henry, who misses out with a thigh strain.

Taking three key players out of the side is a major blow and the main Oxford threat could come from Middlesbrough loanee Marcus Browne, who has scored three goals in five appearances.

However, Robinson's side struggled to create clear opportunities in their first tussle with Newcastle and are unlikely to find the Magpies any easier to break down at the second attempt.

The main reason Newcastle are comfortably placed in 12th spot in the Premier League is their solid rearguard.

They have kept clean sheets in three of their last four matches and conceded just 36 league goals.

Scoring goals has been their problem.

The first-choice front three – Miguel Almiron, Joelinton and Allan Saint-Maximin – have contributed five league goals between them.

However, Almiron and Joelinton found the net in the 4-1 FA Cup third-round replay success at home to Rochdale and should cause Oxford plenty of problems.

Newcastle might only need one goal to get the job done and the chance to back them at odds-against looks worth taking.