Oxford united FC
Oxford United beaten by Derby in blow to survival hopes
Jaydon Banel scored the only goal of the game in the first half as the U’s were left frustrated, seeing big chances squandered in the second half by Yunus Konak and Mark Harris.
Matt Bloomfield’s men remain in the bottom three as their survival hopes continue to be left in the balance.
A cagey start to the game saw Derby find the first effort when Banel aimed Derry Murkin’s low cross at goal only to see it blocked.
Oxford’s first effort came from Jamie Donley who could also only hit a defender.
Another blocked shot saw Murkin denied by Michal Helik before a big chance fell for Stan Mills with space to run at goal, the winger forcing himself too wide before running the ball out of play.
The Rams opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when a rapid counter attack saw Banel burst forward before cutting onto his right foot and sweeping the ball into the bottom left corner.
Captain Cameron Brannagan saw a shot blocked in response before Banel tried to find a second but was thwarted by Helik who came sliding in.
The hosts began to settle into the game then, having the lion’s share of possession and frustrating the Yellows.
Sam Szmodics fired over from range before headers from Matt Clarke and Carlton Morris missed the target.
The second period saw little improvement from Oxford, Szmodics able to shoot in the box with Brown getting a touch to see it over.
A huge chance arrived on the counter for United though, Myles Peart-Harris getting into the box but lingering and losing the ball at the last second to the retreating Szmodics.
READ MORE: Oxford United boss expects Placheta to miss rest of the season
READ MORE: Oxford United player of the season: who should win?
READ MORE: Oxford United rivals set for hearing over points deduction
The U’s received a let-off when Banel slipped when shooting in the box before another big chance fell for Konak.
The young midfielder won the ball high up and was two-on-one with Jeon Jin-woo but opted to shoot, blazing it over agonisingly.
Derby maintained pressure, Szmodics denied again from close range as the U’s looked frustrated.
Oxford kept the hosts at bay before asserting late pressure, substitute Harris putting a late Aidomo Emakhu cross wide at the death.
Derby: Zetterstrom, Ward, Sanderson (Langas 71), Clarke, Murkin (Forsyth 90+1), Travis, Ozoh (Fraulo 70), Brereton Diaz, Szmodics (Salvesen 90+1), Banel (Johnston 86), Morris
Oxford: Cumming, Long, Helik, Brown, Spencer (Vaulks 89), Konak (Harris 84), Brannagan, Mills, Donley (Jin-woo 62), Peart-Harris (Emakhu 62), Lankshear
Bookings: Ozoh, Fraulo, Szmodics, Murkin; Brannagan, Jin-woo
Matt Bloomfield’s U’s finished 22nd last season and will return to the third division after a two-year stint in the Championship.
With 10 out-of-contract players already out the door, Oxford have maintained a good core of players ready for next season.
There is work to be done to trim the fat of the squad, but there are a few Yellows names who have the opportunity to take the third tier by storm.
Tyler Goodrham
Hopefully the U’s academy product has not been forgotten by fans since his New Year’s Day injury which kept him out for the remainder of the season.
Goodrham shone in his last season in League One, which was a breakout year for the 22-year-old, scoring eight goals and registering four assists in 40 appearances.
After the departure of attacking midfielder Jamie Donley following the end of his loan spell from Tottenham Hotspur, there is an opportunity for the Wycombe-born midfielder to lock down the position.
With a full recovery, pre-season, and two years’ experience at a higher level, there is no reason why a hungry Goodrham cannot take League One by storm next season.
Aidomo Emakhu
After a slow start in OX4, the last few Championship fixtures saw the Irishman find some form and break into Bloomfield’s side.
Emakhu has three years’ second tier experience as an impact substitute with Millwall and Oxford and will relish the potential opportunity to play consistently at a level which he will surely fancy himself at.
READ MORE: Ex-England pro details cause of Oxford United relegation
READ MORE: Oxford United’s Brodie Spencer on facing Kylian Mbappe
READ MORE: Every League One player released ahead of 2026/27 season
United fans are yet to see the best of the 22-year-old, who recently made his first senior international appearance for the Republic of Ireland.
However, glimpses of direct, pacey, exciting wing play were demonstrated in substitute features against Derby County and Wrexham and a start against Sheffield Wednesday in the Yellows’ final few Championship games.
Jeon Jin-woo
Emakhu and Goodrham will not be without competition.
Jin-woo joined in January from the Korean league where he was highly-rated, but the transition to English football was always going to take a moment.
The 26-year-old made eight appearances for the U’s in the second half of the season but it was not really enough to gage his true ability.
With a pre-season under his belt, Jin-woo has the opportunity to adjust to the English game and rise to the challenge of League One.
Naturally a winger, Bloomfield used the South Korean as an attacking midfielder on one or two occasions off the bench.
The tournament kicks off at 8pm in the UK with hosts Mexico taking on South Africa at the Mexico City Stadium in a replay of the 2010 World Cup opening fixture.
England begin their quest for a first world title since 1966 on Wednesday, June 17, against 2018 finalists Croatia.
Two former U’s men will take to the world stage over the next month, none more so than 2022 champion Emiliano Martinez.
Martinez helped Lionel Messi’s Argentina to victory in Qatar four years ago, winning the golden glove in the process.
The Aston Villa goalkeeper played one match for Oxford back in 2012 after he joined the club on an emergency loan from Arsenal due to injuries to Ryan Clarke and Wayne Brown.
His single appearance was a 3-0 defeat to Port Vale on the final day of the League Two season which also happened to be Martinez’s debut in the Football League.
READ MORE: Ex-England pro details cause of Oxford United relegation
READ MORE: Oxford United’s Brodie Spencer on facing Kylian Mbappe
Argentina begin their World Cup campaign in the early hours of Wednesday morning against Algeria.
Elsewhere, another former United goalkeeper, Max Crocombe, will be in action for New Zealand.
After joining as a youngster in 2010, Crocombe signed his first professional contract with Oxford in 2012 and spent a further four years at the club.
However, he only made six appearances in that time as he was shipped out on loan four times, including a spell at Banbury United in 2011/12.
The Kiwi left in 2016 and is now at Championship side Millwall, his seventh club since departing OX4.
New Zealand’s first World Cup group game is next Tuesday against Iran, another kick off in the early morning for UK viewers.
The 24-year-old arrives at MEMS Priestfield Stadium after leaving the Yellows last month at the end of his contract.
Godwin joined United from Cheltenham Town in January 2024 on what was described at the time as a long-term deal.
Across his time at Oxford, he has featured intermittently in league and cup competitions, making just 11 competitive appearances and scoring one goal.
READ MORE: When Brazil legend and World Cup winner Pele held an Oxford United shirt
Goodwin officially becomes a Gillingham player on Wednesday, July 1, and has outlined what he feels his strengths are and what fans can expect from him.
In an interview with his new club, the forward said: “After speaking to the manager, his philosophy and playing style suit me to a tee.
“Attacking crosses. I like to get in the box, and having spoken to the manager, he likes his wingers or full-backs to do that [get crosses in], so it seemed like a great move for me to come here and use my best attributes, touches in the box and setting up players for first-time shots.
READ MORE: When England and Euros hero Paul Gascoigne wore an Oxford United shirt
“I am really excited to be here; it’s a great club.”
Goodwin says he was keen to get a move sorted quickly so he could get settled in the area before players return for pre-season testing.
He added: “I really wanted to get in early doors and get settled because I knew I’d have to move, so I like to get settled in an area that I may not be familiar with before pre-season starts.
“I don’t know any of the boys here; I have probably played against a few, but it will be like a first day of school.”
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoWaitrose supermarkets across UK shut due to ‘critical error’
-
Oxford News4 weeks agoMeningitis advice from Oxford student who had infection
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoFlock of clay birds set to take flight in special exhibition
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoOxfordshire bridge closure comes as management ‘weaknesses’ found
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoWhat happens to Halifax customers if Lloyds makes changes?
-
Oxford News4 weeks agoActor steps down from major role in new Harry Potter series
-
Oxford News4 weeks agoNHS fracture service helps support extra 1,000 patients
-
Oxford News4 weeks agoHenley pub once owned by Russell Brand reopens after 6 years