The U’s were defeated 1-0 away at Derby County on the weekend, with rivals West Bromwich Albion securing a 2-0 win over Preston North End to inflict more misery onto the Yellows.

Bloomfield’s men are now five points from safety with a game in hand on Blackburn Rovers one place above them, with the task ahead of them looking increasingly difficult as they welcome promotion-pushing Wrexham to the Kassam on Tuesday evening.

The weekend showed that Oxford cannot rely on other teams to assist them in their quest for Championship survival.

Video thoughts after a tough result to take in #OxfordUnited’s 1-0 defeat to Derby County. 💭

Refreshment needed for Wrexham on Tuesday after a performance which felt like one of a doomed team. 😬#oufc 🟡 pic.twitter.com/EKvW0fm271

— malachi (@MalachiObrey) April 18, 2026

“You can’t expect any favours from anyone else,” the Yellows boss insisted.

“Our future is up to us and we have to make it happen.

“Our job is very clear on what we need to do in the next three games.

“We can’t take anything for granted. We have to go and make something happen.

Oxford United’s Ciaron Brown heads the ball (Image: Jason Dawson)

“We have to go and create our own destiny and that’s what we’ll be looking to go and do.”

Morale across the fanbase was low after the loss at Pride Park with many considering the U’s all but doomed.

“I absolutely understand that. We’re all emotional. We all, in terms of we love our football, right?

“You’re not going to find anyone who loves their football more than me, who cares about winning more than me. I hate losing with a passion and it hurts. And it affects us all.

Oxford United’s Brodie Spencer challenges Derby County’s Carlton Morris (Image: Jason Dawson)

“That’s just human reaction. If you’re going to try and claim it isn’t, then you’re lying. We’re all disappointed.

“We’re all down. But you have to lose that very quickly because football moves on, life moves on. We’ve got another opportunity tomorrow evening to correct what we were unable to do on Saturday.”

READ MORE: Oxford United legend John Aldridge on Milk Cup Wembley win

READ MORE: Fans remember Oxford United Wembley heroics in 1986 PART ONE

READ MORE: Derby County view on Oxford United and Matt Bloomfield

The U’s have fielded a consistent starting XI on the past run of nine matches which has seen them defeat on only two occasions.

Oxford United’s Jamie Donley lines up a shot (Image: Jason Dawson)

This has helped conjure consistent performances over a relatively successful spell, but the Derby game felt like a fork in the road for the team, with some players looking burnt out and off the pace.

When asked if there would be changes for the welcoming of Wrexham in midweek, Bloomfield replied: “I would say possibly and possibly not.

“I think it’s really important that I try and strike the balance between consistency but freshness and we’ve spent some time with the players and we’ll be sending out a team tomorrow evening that we believe can compete in the manner that we need to compete.

The U’s and Liverpool legend, known as ‘Aldo’, was top scorer in the competition that season with five goals and bagged a whopping 31 across the season as a whole.

With a brace in the semi-final first leg against Aston Villa, Aldridge was a key man for the historic United team which went on to beat Queens Park Rangers 3-0 in the final.

Trevor Hebberd, Ray Houghton, and Jeremy Charles scored the goals to see the Yellows, who were underdogs ahead of kick-off, to their first and only ever major trophy triumph.

In the comfort of his living room, Aldridge sat forward, remembering the year that lives so fondly in the memories of U’s fans.

“Did we expect to win it? No,” the 67-year-old declared with honesty.

“But in the early rounds, we fancied ourselves for a run.”

John Aldridge on the ball for Oxford United against QPR in the 1986 Milk Cup final (Image: Offside/Mark Leech)

“I think one of the games I was injured, I think it was Newcastle, I didn’t play and the lads done really well and got past [the third] round.

“Then we moved into the semis against Aston Villa, which, you know, we weren’t too sure about, but to get them past them and get in the final and then everyone just basically said we’ve got no chance against QPR, we’re the total underdogs.

“Like Wimbledon were when I played for Liverpool; very, very similar. But the performance we put in, we absolutely smashed them. They couldn’t deal with us. It was just a fantastic day. To see 40,000 Oxford fans, that was special as well.

“We deserved to win 3-0, you know, and even [the QPR players] were very humble at the end of the game. I knew quite a lot of lads playing and they said, ‘look, you just battered us’.

“It’s massive for a relatively small club to do what we did. We knew we had a good team, some really good players.”

A view from the stands at Wembley during Oxford United’s Milk Cup final win in 1986 (Image: Mark Griffin)

Clearly still enthusiastic about the victory, Aldridge still does not forget how the game played out, with one big regret still weighing on his mind.

“You know what, I missed a f****** sitter by the way,” the former Republic of Ireland international recalled.

“Little Les Phillips, who’s my mate, he should have scored and he’s crossed it to me. I was a little bit surprised and [it was an open] goal and I put it wide.

“I think that was to make it 4-0. So I was a little bit gutted I didn’t score at Wembley.”

The centre forward played 141 times for Oxford, scoring 90 goals before his move to Liverpool where he went on to become a First Division and FA Cup winner.

The 1986 Milk Cup was his first accolade, however, which Aldridge holds in very high regard, continuing to look back fondly on the day.

“You’re a little bit in euphoria, aren’t you?” he continued.

A stand sells Oxford United merchandise ahead of the 1986 Milk Cup final (Image: Mark Griffin)

“You just tend to forget the moments. I was a bit gutted when Trevor [Hebberd] scored the first goal, because I wanted him to pass to me, but he scored.

“But I think picking up the trophy, when you’re a kid, everyone wants to play at Wembley and win the FA Cup. This is obviously secondary, but it’s not at the time.

“When you pick up the cup, it’s something that you relive, because you’ve seen so many great captains over the years and great players do the same.

“The day and the night that unfolded was…really special. Then having done that, we needed to stay up, which we did.

“That was a bit eerie, you know, the later on stages. But it was something that I’ll never ever forget and that’s the only time I won the League Cup.

“I’ll never forget that.”

Aldridge and co. beat Arsenal 3-0 on the final day of that season to stay in the First Division on the final day.

Oxford would have qualified for Europe with the cup victory if it were not for the ban imposed on English clubs from entering European competition due to the Heysel Stadium disaster which occurred the season before.

The Milk Cup final remains the greatest day in the U’s history, which former striker Aldridge is proud to have been a part of.

Exclusive quotes from an interview with the Oxford Mail, courtesy of BetBrain.

The U’s were defeated at Derby on Saturday, the Rams securing a 1-0 win thanks to Jaydon Banel’s first-half goal.

Oxford missed some golden opportunities to draw level, Mark Harris spurning a late chance wide whilst Yunus Konak and Myles Peart-Harris both squandered earlier efforts.

“Obviously relieved,” Eustace replied when asked how he felt when Harris missed the chance at the death.

Derby County manager John Eustace applauds supporters after beating Oxford United (Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)

“They’ve had a couple of chances from our own doing, really. Not being good enough on the ball and making mistakes.

“That was disappointing. You give teams chances, there’s always an opportunity for them. Fortunately, they’ve never taken it.

Oxford United’s Cameron Brannagan plays the ball (Image: Jason Dawson)

“I think when you look at the team that [Oxford] have put out at the moment, obviously a lot of draws, only two defeats in ten.

“I think it is always very difficult to play against and in those kind of games you need that bit of magic.

Oxford United manager Matt Bloomfield (Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)

The former Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham City boss also praised the work of the U’s boss since his January arrival.

“I think over the course of the time he’s been here, being at Oxford, the team have really grew and been very difficult to play against. They’ve had some great results. I think he’s the right man to keep them up for sure.

“I wish him all the best.”