adminOxford United prepare to face three managerless clubs
Oxford United are set to face three teams all currently without a manager after the international break.
The U’s welcome Middlesbrough a week on Saturday, a team who Rob Edwards guided to second in the Championship table before his departure on Wednesday.
Boro are on the search for a new boss and will be expected to have appointed a name during the international break.
Last weekend saw the Teesiders see off Birmingham City in an act of defiance as former Yellows defender Adi Viveash took charge amidst talks between Edwards and his new club Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Amongst the names who could occupy the away dugout at the Kassam next week are Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, ex-Wolves boss and Boro player Gary O’Neil, and former West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan.
The tough Boro test is followed by a trip to Norwich City four days later.
The Canaries sacked former U’s boss Liam Manning after the club’s dismal start to the campaign in which they lost every Championship home game.
Sitting two places below United in 23rd, Norwich have drastically underperformed as anger has consumed the fanbase, primarily directed towards sporting director Ben Knapper.
City fans have started a petition to get rid of Knapper after a series of ‘disappointing’ decisions whilst in his role.
Carrow Road will welcome the U’s in what will most likely be the first home game under a new manager. Names like Jon Dahl Tomasson, formerly of Blackburn Rovers, ex-Southampton boss Will Still, and former Canary Russell Martin are all rumoured to be in contention.
The clash in East Anglia will be a big one in the early fight to avoid relegation, with Gary Rowett’s side needing to widen the gap between them and the teams below after it has narrowed in recent weeks.
They will also be desperate not to be the first team to lose at Carrow Road this season.
The East Anglian theme continues three days after as the U’s welcome Ipswich Town to the Kassam. The newly-relegated side are currently in a good patch of form, with three wins in their last four, and have a squad of top-end Championship quality which sees them slightly alarmingly only in seventh place.
The Friday-night fixture means that a result in Norwich earlier in the week proves even more important in order to take some momentum back to OX4 on the November 28.
Oxford’s first December fixture sees them travel to south Wales to face Swansea City.
The Swans acted somewhat surprisingly in dismissing Alan Sheehan from his role as manager on Tuesday after the club were beaten 4-1 by Ipswich.
Lying in 18th place, the Welsh side have won just four of their opening 15 games. United will hope to use their away resilience – two of the U’s three victories have come away from home – to pick up a result at the Swansea.com Stadium.
Swedish coach Kim Hellberg is the current frontrunner for the job, with a return for Brendan Rodgers also one of the bookmakers’ favourites.
A run of mixed fortunes awaits the U’s then, with both in-form and struggling sides preparing to take on Rowett’s men.
Whilst new manager bounces may prove tricky to navigate, the uncertainty at these other clubs could also provide opportunity for the Yellows to pick up some much-needed Championship points.
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