Oxford united FC
Oxford United 1-1 Charlton Athletic: Late heartbreak for U’s
Cameron Brannagan dispatched the U’s first spot kick since returning to the second tier after Will Lankshear was fouled in the box.
It was late heartbreak though for Matt Bloomfield’s men, Ciaron Brown giving away a 91st-minute penalty which Charlie Kelman slotted away for the Addicks.
A drab first half saw just one shot come in from either side, Jamie Donley putting a free kick from the edge of the box just over the crossbar.
Aidomo Emakhu found an path through to goal earlier on when Lankshear headed the ball centrally and into his path, but the Irish winger was shrugged off the ball by the retreating Harry Clarke.
Charlton held 60 per cent of the possession in the first period but the Yellows held their own, limiting the visitors to very little openings as they failed to manage a shot.
Lankshear held the ball up well when receiving long passes, but did not have quite enough support to find them near him in space.
The second period provided slightly more promise, Michal Helik flicking over the bar from close range.
The unthinkable happened in the 57th minute when Oxford were awarded their first penalty in 675 days.
Lankshear was impeded as Sam Long crossed in, with the referee giving the U’s a penalty for the first time since the League One play-off semi-final second leg against Peterborough United in May 2024.
Brannagan stepped up to take it and slotted it neatly into the bottom left corner to put United ahead.
The U’s almost doubled their lead moments later when Lankshear chipped the keeper, but Lloyd Jones came across to clear off the line.
Charlton began to pick up then, Tyreece Campbell firing a low shot at goal but seeing it blocked.
Still, Oxford tried to hit on the break, Przemyslaw Placheta fizzing a vicious ball across goal which no one was there to meet.
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As the Addicks began to float numerous balls into the box, they won a late penalty when Ciaron Brown grabbed the shirt of Jones who hit the deck.
Kelman stepped up to slot home, scoring after coming off the bench as he did in December’s reverse fixture.
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The draw brings Oxford’s winning streak to end but maintains an unbeaten run of four Championship fixtures.
Oxford: Cumming, Long, Helik, Brown, Currie, Konak (McDonnell 65), Brannagan, Mills (Vaulks 84), Donley (Spencer 77), Emakhu (Placheta 65), Lankshear (Prelec 77)
Charlton: Mannion, Ramsay (Kelman 60), Jones, Bell, Clarke, Docherty (Fullah 82), Coventry (Fevrier 68), Chambers (Rankin-Costello 82), Carey, Campbell, Leaburn
Bookings: Helik, Mills, Brown; Chambers, Clarke, Bell, Rankin-Costello
The U’s drew 1-1 on Good Friday, Cameron Brannagan scoring again from the penalty spot to cancel out Mo Belloumi’s fourth-minute opener.
Oxford created a whopping 3.44 expected goals, creating a number of good chances, none more so than an agonising miss at the back post from Welsh striker Harris in stoppage time.
When asked if the Yellows should have beaten the Tigers, Bloomfield replied: “Yes.”
Harris was sliding at the to meet Stan Mills’ cross late on which almost won the game for the U’s.
“It looked like he was just stretching to get there, whether he was under control of it or not, I’m not sure,” the United boss continued.
“I thought he added real energy to us when we needed it.
“Jamie Donley was just tiring, obviously he had a busy week and I thought Sparky was excellent.
Post-Hull thoughts after the 1-1 draw. 💭
Thought #OxfordUnited played some really tidy stuff at times today. Tired a bit in the second half but probably should’ve won it with the overall chances. #oufc 🟡 pic.twitter.com/HXPi3WSkKG
— malachi (@MalachiObrey) April 3, 2026
“I thought we were very good, created enough opportunities to win the game.
“It’s not easy to play against Hull and come back from a goal down either, so to keep going and get ourselves back in the game, there’s lots to be pleased with and positive about.”
The Yellows conceded early on similarly to in their last game, a 2-0 defeat at Southampton.
“Really disappointed to go 1-0 down and we have to look at that, but the response from the players to go and create the opportunities that we did, get ourselves back in the goal with the penalty.
“It was so close.
“If we’d have got the win it would have been a very good day.”
Matt Bloomfield told us he wanted the left-foot balance of Ruben Roosken in the first half to support Peart-Harris drifting inside. ⚖️
He also praised Spencer who came on at HT and made a big difference defensively. 👏#oufc 🟡
— malachi (@MalachiObrey) April 3, 2026
Oxford played some neat football at times against the Tigers, Jamie Donley often at the heart of things.
Amidst the scrap of a relegation battle, the Bloomfield is keen to keep the team enjoying their football.
“We’re in a situation that everyone keeps telling me is every game worth six points and cup finals and all the rest of it.
“But I want the boys to go and enjoy their football and to put on a performance that the crowd enjoy.
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“The only way we’re going to win games is to create opportunities and you can’t do that if you’re too tense.
“It’s also about trying to relax them to play some good football and I thought we played some real good stuff today.”
The U’s remain in 23rd after the point, with Leicester still above on goal difference and next opponents Portsmouth one point away in 21st.
A fourth-minute opener from Hull’s Mo Belloumi was a frustrating start, but the United captain’s spot kick levelled things less than ten minutes later.
The U’s late charge saw them almost nick the win through Mark Harris but the ball was turned agonisingly wide of the post.
Will Lankshear found the first effort of the game, seeing his shot from the edge of the box deflected and saved before Hull found an early opener.
Belloumi brought down a long ball forward from Semi Ajayi and drove inside before sticking the ball past Jamie Cumming.
Oxford responded well however, and Lankshear drew a penalty from Charlie Hughes just nine minutes later, the Tottenham Hotspur loanee about to latch onto Jamie Donley’s through ball before being brought down.
Brannagan tucked away the U’s second penalty in as many home games to level the score.
Matt Bloomfield’s men carried on attacking, finding space in wide areas as Lankshear put a diving header agonisingly over the crossbar.
Donley and Belloumi both put efforts off target from the edge of the box, before the latter directed a cross towards Kyle Joseph just wide of the post with the outside of his boot.
Joseph did find a chance moments later, Belloumi this time picking him out, but Cumming saved his shot from a slight angle inside the area.
The U’s tried to hit back again, Ciaron Brown finding Myles Peart-Harris in space, the winger poking his shot at the goalkeeper before Donley’s heavy touch took the rebound wide, the chance going begging when Peart-Harris crossed back in from an offside position.
A blocked volley from Belloumi saw out the first half.
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Two early second-half chances fell for the Yellows as Michal Helik headed over from close range before Brannagan forced a diving save from Dillon Phillips from a long way out.
Hull hit back as John Lundstram saw a vicious shot blocked in the box before Matt Crooks had two efforts in the box go begging.
A multitude of shots were blocked by Hull shirts before ambitious efforts from Mark Harris and Helik.
As the board showing four minutes added time was shown, Oxford almost took the win.
Harris slid in at the back post to meet Stan Mills’ low ball but was stretching and could only put it painfully wide of the post.
Substitute Will Vaulks forced a final save out of Phillips with a sweet strike, but it was a point apiece in the end.
Oxford: Cumming, Long, Helik, Brown, Roosken, Konak, Brannagan, Mills, Donley, Peart-Harris, Lankshear
Hull: Phillips, Drameh, Ajayi, Hughes, Coyle, Lundstram, Crooks, Belloumi, Gelhardt, Joseph, McBurnie
Bookings: Hughes
Oxford United host fifth-placed Hull City to kick off the Easter weekend as the U’s begin their Championship run-in and fight for survival.
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