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.

(Image: Oxford United)

“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.

(Image: Oxford United)

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.”

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.

Brodie Spencer challenges for the ball (Image: Oxford United)

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.

Oxford United head coach Matt Bloomfield and assistant Mike Dodds watch on against Millwall (Image: Oxford United)

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