Oxford united FC
Five Oxford United stars defeated in World Cup play-offs
The Welsh national team suffered a 4-2 penalty-shoutout loss against Bosnia & Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off semi-final after drawing 1-1 in regular time.
U’s striker Mark Harris came on in the 75th minute and scored one of his country’s two successful spot kicks in the shootout.
The 27-year-old came close to scoring with one of the last kicks of extra time but could not find contact with the ball from very close range.
Leeds United winger Daniel James scored for Wales in regular time with a sweet strike from range before veteran and former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko levelled the scores.
Oxford’s four Northern Ireland internationals had their dreams of playing at a World Cup ended by Italy in a 2-0 loss earlier in the evening.
READ MORE: Oxford United’s Championship losses compared against rivals
The Green and White Army suffered defeat in Bergamo in their World Cup play-off semi-final clash with the Azzurri.
Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali opened the scoring in the second half before former Everton striker Moise Kean put the game to bed with 10 minutes to go.
U’s players Brodie Spencer and Jamie Donley started the game whilst Ciaron Brown and Jamie McDonnell were unused substitutes on the night.
Spencer performed well at left wing back for Northern Ireland, receiving plaudits from the BBC commentators for his adaptability and praise on social media for his display on the international stage.
The two sides could have played each other in the play-off final but will now face each other next week in a match for third place.
Oxford return to action on Good Friday when they welcome Hull City to the Kassam Stadium after the final international break of the season.
Jamie Donley’s first goal for the Yellows was all that was needed to see off Rovers to pick up a huge win in the battle for Championship survival.
The third win on the bounce means that United have won three games in a row for the first time since former head coach Gary Rowett’s first trio of matches in charge.
Matt Bloomfield’s men now sit in 22nd, only in the relegation zone on goal difference with Leicester City level on points above them.
An emotional start to the night saw the club remember academy goalkeeper Amelia Aplin who sadly passed away last weekend, with a minute’s silence and plenty of tributes taking place ahead of kick-off.
The U’s started brightly and almost found the lead after just six minutes, Will Lankshear only able to turn Stan Mills’ ball wide from close range.
Donley continued to impress in the Yellows attack, beating players and providing good deliveries whilst Mills forced a save from Balazs Toth after cutting onto his left foot and striking low at goal.
United continued to put balls into the box with Donley finding the side-netting at the back post from a Currie cross after Toth missed it.
Shortly after, however, the midfielder found the breakthrough. Mills’ cross towards Myles Peart-Harris was headed goalward and parried out by the keeper, but Donley was there to sweep home for his first goal in yellow.
An early penalty shout was routinely dismissed by the referee as Peart-Harris went down under contact in the box early in the second half.
READ MORE: Emotional tributes for Oxford United’s Amelia Aplin
A great first period continued into the second as Ciaron Brown nodded a good corner ball over the bar before Peart-Harris squandered a good chance to double the lead after Rovers gifted him the ball, Toth getting down to save his tame placed effort.
The U’s continued with their pressure but struggled then to find openings as Blackburn picked up their efforts near the end.
READ MORE: Oxford United striker snubbed Middlesbrough and Ipswich Town
Jack Currie blocked a fierce shot from Ryan Alebiosu arriving in the box on the right, before a chaotice sequence of events in the U’s box saw Yuki Ohashi go down before Brodie Spencer then shielded the ball out and to safety.
A nervy last few moments saw Michal Helik fizz a shot wide as the Yellows camped in their half to fend of the visitors.
READ MORE: Oxford United boss and captain pay tribute to Amelia Aplin
Oxford: Cumming, Long, Helik, Brown, Currie, Konak (Vaulks 78), Brannagan, Mills (Harris 87), Donley (McDonnell 87), Peart-Harris (Spencer 78), Lankshear (Prelec 73)
Blackburn: Toth, Alebiosu, Carter, McLoughlin, Cashin, Forshaw (Tavares 80), Gardner-Hickman, Morishita, Baradji (Ohashi 59), De Neve (Afolayan 73), Jorgensen (Cantwell 73)
Bookings: McLoughlin, Carter
The U’s beat Rovers 1-0 at the Kassam on Wednesday night thanks to Jamie Donley’s first-half strike and maiden goal for the club.
Yellows boss Bloomfield honoured Amelia, who tragically passed away last weekend at the age of 15, after the victory.
“It’s very bittersweet,” the 42-year-old said.
“What we wanted to do tonight, above anything else, is make sure we pay tribute to Amelia and her family in the correct manner, with the dignity and respect that she deserved, and they deserved.
“For her teammates and her parents to join us on the pitch for the minute’s silence and our supporters observed it immaculately, both sets of supporters, so thank you to them for that.
“Tonight was about dedicating the evening to Amelia.
“She’ll live forever in our hearts.
“I hope her family will be friends of the football club forever.
Applause at the 15-minute mark for Amelia Aplin. 💛 #oufc 🟡 pic.twitter.com/WCCw0FllJ6
— malachi (@MalachiObrey) March 11, 2026
“We had to make sure we paid the best respects we possibly could to such a devastating loss for her family.
“The last few days have been tough because football pales in significance in a moment like this because human life is far more important and family losing a daughter and teammates losing a friend is far more important.
READ MORE: Oxford United striker snubbed Middlesbrough and Ipswich Town
“We wanted to perform with respect and perform properly to show the best light of ourselves on such an important evening for us.
“I don’t want to understate how important the game was for us, but in those circumstances it’s a distant second. But we’ve got a really important season that we want to go and execute.
HUGE win over Blackburn for Oxford United who are now only in the relegation zone in goal difference. 👏#oufc 🟡 pic.twitter.com/AmaLCmGTrJ
— malachi (@MalachiObrey) March 11, 2026
READ MORE: Oxford United boss and captain pay tribute to Amelia Aplin
“I didn’t want to let Amelia and her family down with a poor performance and not do her justice, so it was really important that we tried to put the two together which I think we did.”
Oxford’s admirable performance at the Kassam sees them climb to 22nd in the Championship table, level on points with Leicester City above them and only in the relegation zone on goal difference.
READ MORE: Oxford United beat Blackburn Rovers to extend winning run
With three consecutive wins under their belt for the first time in over a year, Bloomfield’s team are all of a sudden in with a real chance of staying up this season and carry unique momentum going into the final nine games.
“The table will be as it is at the end of the season, we have to just keep going after our work, concentrating on the performances,” Bloomfield added.
“We have to…play the games that are in front of us, not the perception of the situation of the table or anything else.”
The U’s have won three on the trot after dispatching of Blackburn Rovers in a Championship win at the Kassam as the fight for relegation sparks into life.
Tottenham Hotspur loanee Jamie Donley bagged the only goal of the game, finding the net for the first time in a yellow shirt as United find themselves in fine form.
After Yellows head coach Bloomfield dedicated Wednesday’s win to academy goalkeeper Amelia Aplin who tragically lost her life last Saturday, here is the rest of what he had to say in his post-match interview.
Thoughts on the performance:
I thought we were very good in the first half. Some of the football we played, our pressing, some of the energy we showed, was really good.
Second half, we came out and were a little bit erratic. We gave away a corner early on and I didn’t like our shape for five minutes. Then we got a foothold and probably the biggest disappointment of the night is to not have been two or three ahead and been a bit more comfortable at the end.
It was a bit nervy at the end, and it wasn’t very nice. I didn’t enjoy it at all, that last bit. Because, at 1-0, it only takes a moment. So, I’m disappointed we didn’t put the game to bed, but to come out with a clean sheet and three points is really pleasing.
If we’d conceded, we’d have all been really disappointed and it would’ve been unjust in my opinion. We should’ve been comfortable at the end, we should’ve been two or three ahead.
There’s plenty more for us to chase and that’s what we need to keep doing. It’s been a very nice three games, a really profitable three games for us.
HUGE win over Blackburn for Oxford United who are now only in the relegation zone in goal difference. 👏 #oufc 🟡 pic.twitter.com/AmaLCmGTrJ
— malachi (@MalachiObrey) March 11, 2026
Jamie Donley’s impact on the team:
It was my first day when he injured his shoulder at Milton Keynes, so we’ve had to be patient to get him back.
We know that he’s a good player. He had a great season at Leyton Orient last year and he helps knit us together in that 10. We’re really pleased with him.
He just tired a little bit at the end, but for him to get his first goal, he just gives us that little bit of creativity. He’s a very intelligent footballer, so we’re really pleased to have him, and we hope there’s more to come in the next few games.
I think he’s been a really important factor in that amongst other important factors. He can land on the ball, he can find a pass, he can switch play, he can knit the game together.
He’s working really hard out of possession. Him and Will have got a really good understanding because of their history together.
Applause at the 15-minute mark for Amelia Aplin. 💛#oufc 🟡 pic.twitter.com/WCCw0FllJ6
— malachi (@MalachiObrey) March 11, 2026
He’s been a really important cog in the wheel at the moment, and I believe there’s more to come from him in the Championship. He’s still a young player, first season at this level, and he’s still getting used to the speed of the game in terms of coming back from his injury.
READ MORE: Matt Bloomfield dedicates Oxford United win to Amelia Aplin
The team staying unchanged for the last three matches:
You always have to consider, but it would’ve taken a big argument to change anything after the level of performance at Preston.
READ MORE: Oxford United beat Blackburn Rovers to extend winning run
I think once we get further down the line and we’ve been working together with the players for a lot longer, it’s easier to change things and still see the same character and performance levels. At the moment, because we’re still relatively new in the building, you risk upsetting that if you change too much.
Having said that, it’s a really quick turnaround to Saturday, so the chances of changes for Saturday is probably a lot higher than what it was from Friday to Wednesday.
READ MORE: Oxford United boss and captain pay tribute to Amelia Aplin
The U’s momentum:
You have to love and cherish it because it can go as quickly as it comes around. If we don’t keep our feet on the ground and stay humble with it, then the game finds a way of kicking you when you least expect it.
READ MORE: Oxford United striker snubbed Middlesbrough and Ipswich Town
Injuries ahead of Charlton:
There are a couple of knocks actually. One of the lads is carrying something that’s a big doubt for the weekend so there might be one enforced change.
But it’s so soon after the game that it’s hard to know so soon where the lads are at.
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