Oxford United beat Blackburn Rovers to extend winning run

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.

Myles Peart-Harris awaits a ball into the box for Oxford United (Image: Oxford United)

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.

Yunus Konak runs with the ball for Oxford United (Image: Oxford United)

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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.

Oxford United ox decorated with tributes to Amelia Aplin (Image: Oxford United)

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