Oxford united FC
Oxford United ‘showed character’ in defeat at Millwall
In their final Championship fixtures before returning to League One next season, The U’s were downed at The Den thanks to a Femi Azeez brace.
The Yellows garnered some chances but were on the back foot against a Millwall side pushing for automatic promotion to the Premier League.
With relegation confirmed for Oxford last week, Bloomfield praised his team’s efforts despite having nothing to play for.
“We showed character, but we’re going to have to show a whole lot more next season in terms of doing it game after game, week after week,” the United head coach admitted.
“The lads have given us everything. There’s no getting away from that. They’ve been excellent for the four months we’ve been here in terms of their dedication, the way they’ve stuck about the task.
“And we showed some character today because it was always going to be a tough day. But there’s a lot of work we’re going to go after in the summer.
“We had some good chances. Not enough of them.
“Not enough final third entries. Not enough real sustained pressure, but that was always going to be tough given the circumstances. We did have some big chances on the day.
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“One of them goes in and we get our tails up a little bit and the whole psychology of the day changes. Yes, we had some big chances, but unfortunately we didn’t stick one away.”
Tottenham Hotspur loanee Will Lankshear and Wales international Mark Harris both saw efforts in the box go begging, Anthony Patterson clawing away the latter’s late header.
Despite the two goals conceded, Bloomfield declared that he was proud of his side’s defensive efforts as The Lions peppered Jamie Cumming’s goal with 22 shots across the 90 minutes as Oxford managed only four.
“I thought we started the game alright, if I’m honest. Our intensity just dropped off a little bit and Millwall stepped on.
“It was always going to be a tough day, right? Let’s not make any bones about it against a team that had so much to play for and with such an incredible atmosphere inside the ground, it was never going to be an easy day for us.
“I thought our defenders, like Ciaron [Brown], Michal [Helik], I thought they were excellent.
“Brodie, defending 1v1 in wide areas. They defended their goal with real pride. So yeah, I thought those guys at the back were excellent today. They had a lot to defend and I thought they did it.”
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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