What the Stats Say...Macclesfield

Having previously bemoaned the fact that we always seem to play sides when they're out of form,along come a woefully out of form Macclesfield to prove me wrong. With Oxford marooned in seventh place, six points behind Torquay and five points ahead of Port Vale, this match must be seen as a good chance to get points on the board. And yet, this being Oxford, we all know it won't be that straightforward. Here's Matt Peck with the stats on a fixture that has become rather a regular occurrence in the last decade.

THE NUMBERS

Form (League)

Oxford: DDWDW (9 pts)

Macclesfield: LLLLL (0 pts)

Times played (at Oxford): 6

Wins

Oxford: 2

Macclesfield: 2

Draws: 2

Goals

Oxford: 7

Macclesfield: 7

Last league Result (At Oxford): (28 December 2010)

Oxford United 2 v 1 Macclesfield

Heslop (17’)             Sappleton (82’)

Constable (70’)

Reverse Fixture: Macclesfield 1 - 1 Oxford United 

OTHER STATS

This is a thoroughly 21^st century tie, with these two teams meeting at Oxford six times since the turn of the century. The first meeting back in 2001 was a 0-2 win for Macclesfield. Indeed it would be third time lucky for Oxford to beat the Silkmen at home, not doing so until November 2003 when Oxford came from behind to win 3-1 courtesy of strikes from Alsop, Hunt and Wanless.

Macclesfield’s form is the worst in the entire Football League, with 8 consecutive league defeats. In those games, they have only scored 5 goals, conceding 17.

Oxford on the other hand have had a good run of late. Losing once in their last 12 outings, and with back to back home wins for the first time since October, confidence is high in the home dressing room.

Oxford have the most draws this season, with 11 stalemates.

Their win against Barnet was the first time this season that Oxford have come from behind to win a game. A surprising statistic considering the frequency that Oxford did this last season.

Oxford's most common scoreline at home this season is 1-1, occurring 27% of the time. Macclesfield’s most common away scoreline is defeat 1-0, with this also occurring 27% of all away games.

Oxford have only failed to score in one home game this season, against Crewe. Macclesfield have, on the other hand, failed to score in 9 of their away fixtures, equating to 60% of their games.

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