Oxford united FC
Oxford United beaten 2-0 by Millwall to end Championship stay
A brace from The Lions’ star man Femi Azeez saw the hosts cruise to victory on their quest for automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Rivals Ipswich Town secured second place, though, with a 3-0 win over Queens Park Rangers.
Matt Bloomfield’s men had chances to bow out with a goal but were ultimately on the back foot for most of the match at a deafening Den against Alex Neil’s invigorated Lions.
Millwall came bursting out of the blocks.
The threat of Azeez won a couple of early corners, Thierno Ballo and Jake Cooper both directing crosses at goal unsuccessfully.
Oxford managed to hit on the break as Will Lankshear put a good ball in over the bar before Ballo headed over at the other end yet again.
Brentford loanee Yunus Konak was unfortunately substituted for Cameron Brannagan after a push from Azeez, The Lions continuing to pile on the pressure in the aftermath.
Lions left back Zak Sturge saw a shot deflected before Azeez relentlessly made inroads on the right flank in the minutes after.
The U’s tried to respond through Brannagan who got on the end of a great ball across from Stan Mills on the counter but saw his effort blocked.
Azeez finally found the breakthrough with 34 minutes on the clock, receiving the ball from Mihailo Ivanovic in the box, beating Brannagan, and firing into the roof of the net.
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Alex Neil’s side were denied a second by the woodwork shortly after as a cross in took a nick and bounced back off the post.
Camiel Neghli and Ivanovic both missed chances at the end of the half.
Millwall struck early in the second period, working the ball well to Ballo in the box who put the ball across the face of goal for Azeez to brush home at the back post.
Remaining on the front foot, Casper De Norre fired over for the hosts before Jamie Cumming denied Neghli with save.
Another stop from The Yellows’ keeper prevented Ryan Leonard volleying in a third at the near post before doing the same to stop substitute Luke Cundle.
With the hosts comfortable, The U’s had a few late attacks.
Jeon Jin-woo dragged a shot wide after cutting onto his left foot before Mark Harris nodded Aidomo Emakhu’s cross on target which Anthony Patterson managed to claw off the line.
Millwall: Patterson, Leonard, Crama, Cooper, Sturge (Doughty 61), Bannan (Langstaff 81), De Norre (Mitchell 61), Azeez (Smallbone 74), Neghli, Ballo (Cundle 61), Ivanovic
Oxford: Cumming, ter Avest (Long 88), Helik, Brown, Spencer, Konak (Brannagan 17), Vaulks, Mills (Jin-woo 59), Donley (McDonnell 59), Emakhu, Lankshear (Harris 59)
Bookings: Ballo
The U’s will play host to the Tractor Boys on Saturday, August 1, with kick-off scheduled for 12:00PM.
The fixture is the fourth pre-season friendly confirmed by the club and the first from a division higher than League One, where Oxford will compete next term.
United will face National League side Aldershot Town (Tuesday, July 21) and League Two club Barnet (Saturday, July 25) away from home before the welcoming of another fourth-tier outfit Crawley Town (Tuesday, July 28).
The U’s have also confirmed that tickets for the trip to Aldershot are now on sale.
Oxford played Ipswich twice in the Championship last season as Matt Bloomfield’s side suffered relegation whilst the Suffolk club were promoted to the Premier League, finishing second.
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Under former head coach Gary Rowett, the Yellows pulled off a shock 2-1 victory against Kieran McKenna’s men in OX4 in late November, Mark Harris and Przemyslaw Placheta scoring the goals.
They were defeated 2-1, however, in the second fixture, Will Lankshear scoring the only goal for the U’s at Portman Road.
The Tractor Boys are currently on the hunt for a new manager after McKenna stepped down last week in order to take a break from football management.
The U’s reportedly met with the Colchester United winger as they look to secure his services ahead of the 2026/27 League One campaign.
Thames Valley rivals Reading pulled the plug on their interest earlier this month but it has since been revealed that Wednesday and Huddersfield are both also in the race for Lisbie’s signature alongside Oxford and Peterborough United.
The 22-year-old scored 11 goals and managed eight assists in 45 League Two appearances last season and has one year left on his contract at the JobServe Community Stadium.
Football League World has named the Owls and the Terriers as two competitors to the U’s for Lisbie, whose twin brother, Kyrell, plays for third tier rivals Peterborough.
Lisbie is also the son of former Premier League and EFL striker, Kevin.
Matt Bloomfield’s Oxford held interest in the winger in January but were blocked alongside Reading FC from signing the player but Colchester United’s chairman.
An estimated fee of between £500-750K is Colchester’s current asking price.
Lisbie played for the academies of Leyton Orient, Watford and Brentford during his youth before experiencing his first taste of senior football for Cray Valley Paper Mills.
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He moved to Colchester from Brentford B in early 2025 and spent a brief time on loan with Braintree Town at the end of the 2024/25 season.
The Englishman won the Young Player of the Year award at Colchester’s end of season awards
After their relegation from the Championship, Oxford are looking to bolster and fill gaps in the squad after 15 players in total were released and had their loan spells end in OX4 last month.
The Yellows finished 22nd in the second tier, two places above rock-bottom side Wednesday with whom they are competing for Lisbie’s services.
After losing forward players like top scorer Will Lankshear, Myles Peart-Harris and Jamie Donley, more goals will be needed at the Kassam if they are to bounce straight back in League One.
Lisbie appeared on the right wing most frequently for Colchester last term, with the Essex club finishing 12th in the four tier.
Oxford only have supporters’ and players’ player of the year Stan Mills as a pure right midfielder and so the signing of the youngster would provide some healthy competition and quality backup for Mills.
The U’s are yet to make their first signing of the summer after the transfer window officially opened on Monday.
Sykes was one of three players – alongside Harry Cornick and Sam Morsy – to be released by the Robins last week after the appointment of new head coach Michael Skubala from newly-promoted Lincoln City.
The former Yellow left the club for the red side of Bristol in 2022 after making 136 appearances in OX4 during a three-year stint.
Sykes scored 11 times for Oxford and managed 21 assists, including the consolation goal in the U’s 2-1 League One play-off final defeat to Wycombe Wanderers in 2020.
He arrived at the Kassam in 2019 from semi-professional Northern Irish club Glenavon.
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The Republic of Ireland international went on to make 153 appearances for Bristol City, scoring 18 goals.
The 28-year-old has been linked with Championship sides Preston North End, Blackburn Rovers and Charlton Athletic but his next destination is still yet to be confirmed.
Sykes enjoyed his best season for Oxford back in 2021/22, before his move to Ashton Gate, scoring eight goals and bagging five assists, proving the club right in renewing his contract the year prior.
Taking to social media, the Belfast-born man said upon leaving the Robins: “[There are] a lot of moments that will stay with me forever. A place that really felt like home. Thank you to all who played a part in making it feel that way. It’s been a pleasure! Syksey.”
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