Oxford united FC
Oxford United beaten 2-0 by Saints in first St Mary’s visit
Early goals from Cyle Larin and Shea Charles were all that was needed to send Matt Bloomfield’s men home empty handed.
Striker Will Lankshear’s bad miss saw Oxford’s best chance at getting back into the game go begging in the second period with Saints almost finding a third when Tom Fellows struck the crossbar not long after.
The U’s got off to a poor start on the south coast, conceding the opener after just six minutes.
A defence-splitting ball from Taylor Harwood-Bellis found Fellows who put it on a plate for Larin to stretch and poke home from close range.
Saints doubled their lead seven minutes later when a short corner was played all the way back to Charles who curled the ball into the top right corner from about 35 yards out.
The hosts remained with the majority of the ball and again looked for Larin, this time a low cross being met first by Jamie Cumming.
A header from Ryan Manning was cleared by Michal Helik, whilst the Yellows struggled to create when in possession.
Yunus Konak had a volley at goal fly over the bar from the edge of the area, with their best passage of play coming at the culmination of the half, Myles Peart-Harris unable to acrobatically finish.
Tonda Eckert’s men had an early effort in the second half when Manning pulled the ball back for Finn Azaz who placed the ball towards goal, Ciaron Brown booting clear.
Oxford then finally found some sustained pressure, Stan Mills having a penalty shout waved away after going down under a challenge from Flynn Downes.
Shouts for handball followed as Mills again twisted and turned in the box, before a trio of shots, two from Cameron Brannagan and one from Lankshear, were all blocked.
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Azaz and Manning had efforts denied for Saints before Lankshear squandered an enormous chance to score after intercepting Harwood-Bellis’ pass and having only the goalkeeper to beat but sliding the ball wide of the bottom right corner.
The hosts then missed their own big chance, Cumming saving a Ross Stewart shot down low before Fellows struck the crossbar with the follow-up from close range.
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More chances followed for Saints, Fellows’ low effort denied and Stewart heading over before Cumming punched a James Bree free kick clear.
The Yellows substitutes failed to make a late impact as Southampton extended their unbeaten run to 14 games.
Southampton: Peretz, Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens, Manning (Quarshie 91), Downes, Fellows (Matsuki 77), Azaz (Oyekunle 91), Charles, Archer (Edozie 59), Larin (Stewart 59)
Oxford: Cumming, Spencer, Long, Helik, Brown, Currie (Donley 70), Brannagan, Konak (McDonnell 70), Mills (Emakhu 88), Lankshear (Harris 77), Peart-Harris (Jin-woo 77)
Bookings: Mills, Spencer, Helik
The U’s centre back has been key in a side that has won its last three games, with Brown getting on the scoresheet in their 3-1 win away at Preston North End last week.
Their most recent victory saw them beat Blackburn Rovers 1-0 in an impressive home display.
“I think maybe the penny has dropped and some things are starting to click and got the ideas across that we need to do better performance-wise but also need to do better results-wise,” Brown said ahead of United’s next game against Charlton Athletic on Saturday.
“I think a lot of the season, we’ve probably been a bit too inconsistent where we haven’t put runs together, haven’t put back-to-back wins together which has ultimately put us in this position.
“Over the last month or few weeks, before we put this string of wins together, it did feel sometimes a bit unfortunate. It felt like we were just on that line of putting wins together.
“I think we’ve all come together and…it’s clicked.
“A big part of last season was the defenders chipping in with goals and maybe we haven’t done that as much this year as we would’ve liked.
“But to get clean sheets and chip in with a few goals is always nice.”
Oxford are fighting for survival in their second season in the Championship after avoiding relegation in the previous campaign.
READ MORE: Matt Bloomfield dedicates Oxford United win to Amelia Aplin
A lot has changed since then, with Matt Bloomfield now in charge and plenty of new players arriving in OX4, eight in the January transfer window alone.
“I think a lot of people are going back to last year, but I do think our squad is massively different” admitted the 28-year-old.
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“Whether that’s some of the boys from previous years stepping up and helping [the new players] through that process.
“It’s a totally different season and there are different obstacles thrown at you, but I think maybe the experience of last year can hopefully play a part this year and have the same outcome.”
The Yellows face a Charlton side this weekend who have won two in a row, with a shock 1-0 win away at second-placed Middlesbrough last time out.
READ MORE: Matt Bloomfield’s full thoughts after Oxford beat Blackburn
The Addicks looked as if they would be involved the relegation scrap but have now pulled away from the pack and look likely to survive.
“I think they’ve done really well this season, especially getting promoted last season and then first season in the Championship this year; I think they’ve done unbelievably.
“Whether they’re out of it or in it, who knows? But I think they’ve put themselves in a great place to stay up.”
Oxford United host Charlton Athletic as they look to win their fourth Championship game in a row.
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Cameron Brannagan dispatched the U’s first spot kick since returning to the second tier after Will Lankshear was fouled in the box.
It was late heartbreak though for Matt Bloomfield’s men, Ciaron Brown giving away a 91st-minute penalty which Charlie Kelman slotted away for the Addicks.
A drab first half saw just one shot come in from either side, Jamie Donley putting a free kick from the edge of the box just over the crossbar.
Aidomo Emakhu found an path through to goal earlier on when Lankshear headed the ball centrally and into his path, but the Irish winger was shrugged off the ball by the retreating Harry Clarke.
Charlton held 60 per cent of the possession in the first period but the Yellows held their own, limiting the visitors to very little openings as they failed to manage a shot.
Lankshear held the ball up well when receiving long passes, but did not have quite enough support to find them near him in space.
The second period provided slightly more promise, Michal Helik flicking over the bar from close range.
The unthinkable happened in the 57th minute when Oxford were awarded their first penalty in 675 days.
Lankshear was impeded as Sam Long crossed in, with the referee giving the U’s a penalty for the first time since the League One play-off semi-final second leg against Peterborough United in May 2024.
Brannagan stepped up to take it and slotted it neatly into the bottom left corner to put United ahead.
The U’s almost doubled their lead moments later when Lankshear chipped the keeper, but Lloyd Jones came across to clear off the line.
Charlton began to pick up then, Tyreece Campbell firing a low shot at goal but seeing it blocked.
Still, Oxford tried to hit on the break, Przemyslaw Placheta fizzing a vicious ball across goal which no one was there to meet.
READ MORE: Oxford United boss and captain pay tribute to Amelia Aplin
As the Addicks began to float numerous balls into the box, they won a late penalty when Ciaron Brown grabbed the shirt of Jones who hit the deck.
Kelman stepped up to slot home, scoring after coming off the bench as he did in December’s reverse fixture.
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The draw brings Oxford’s winning streak to end but maintains an unbeaten run of four Championship fixtures.
Oxford: Cumming, Long, Helik, Brown, Currie, Konak (McDonnell 65), Brannagan, Mills (Vaulks 84), Donley (Spencer 77), Emakhu (Placheta 65), Lankshear (Prelec 77)
Charlton: Mannion, Ramsay (Kelman 60), Jones, Bell, Clarke, Docherty (Fullah 82), Coventry (Fevrier 68), Chambers (Rankin-Costello 82), Carey, Campbell, Leaburn
Bookings: Helik, Mills, Brown; Chambers, Clarke, Bell, Rankin-Costello
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