Oxford united FC
Oxford United defender Helik makes Premier League remark
Matt Bloomfield’s side have enjoyed success from set pieces of late, scoring from four in their last four Championship games.
Helik bagged a goal for himself against Preston North End, latching on the end of a deep free kick into the box from Cameron Brannagan.
Ahead of a tough away trip to in-form Southampton, the Polish centre back hopes for more joy from set plays.
“I think it was our strength last season as well and I’m really glad that we’ve started to score a bit more in the last few games from set plays,” Helik said.
“As you can see in the Premier League now, it’s more and more important to have that threat from set plays.
“I really believe that that can help us in the last few games of the season because the set plays are very important, especially in the games where there is not much in the game, when both teams need to have a result and then the set plays are really massive.”
The U’s face a Saints side this weekend who are in blistering form and pushing for the play-off-placed finish after a bad start to the season.
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Since replacing Will Still, head coach Tonda Eckert has drastically turned things round on the south coast with his side on a 13-game unbeaten run in all competitions, including an FA Cup upset against Premier League outfit Fulham.
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Yellows defender Helik worked under the Saints boss at Barnsley when the German was assistant coach to now-Bristol City head coach Gerhard Struber.
Helik continued: “I’m looking forward to it. I know the gaffer there really well from my time at Barnsley.
“I wish him all the best and I’m glad he’s doing really well. I think he’s a great coach but obviously I will do my best to beat him. So, it’s even more for me, that game, personally.
READ MORE: Inside the Kassam as Will Vaulks delivers emotional evening
“We managed to beat them at home which was a really good feeling, and I hope we’re going to repeat it on Saturday.
“We’ve got young players who are showing really good hunger and the loan players are showing a desire to fight for the team and for this club which is really good because you don’t always get that from loan players.
“In our squad I feel like we’ve got a good mix to perform really well and to keep Oxford in the Championship.”
The 15-year-old died at the weekend after collapsing during on the pitch during a ‘Junior Premier League’ match last Saturday.
Tributes have been paid at Oxford’s training ground over the past week and a minute’s silence was observed before kick-off against Blackburn Rovers.
Flowers, scarves and messages were left draped on the bronze ox statue outside the Kassam Stadium.
The game was then paused for a minute’s applause in the 15th minute as the U’s won 1-0 on the night.
Ahead of the game, head coach Matt Bloomfield said: “It is devastatingly sad news. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Amelia’s family.
“Her teammates were here yesterday and her parents, I met them very briefly. We are all heartbroken for Amelia’s family.
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“As a dad, my heart is broken for her parents. It’s been very sombre here as you can understand and we have to make sure that we give Amelia’s friends and family all the love that they need going through this such terrible time.”
The Oxford Mail’s sports reporter Malachi Obrey, covering the game at the Kassam on March 11, described the atmosphere as “very emotional”.
He said: “There was a minute’s silence ahead of the first whistle with Amelia’s teammates and parents in attendance for a sombre moment of reflection.
“Another stoppage as well at the 15-minute mark as the whole ground united in applause – a reminder that there are things bigger than football and great to see all corners of the ground united.”
Oxford City offered its “sincere condolences” to the family of Amelia Aplin and to “our friends” at Oxford United during this “incredibly sad” time.
A statement from Summertown Stars Football Club said: “On behalf of everyone at Summertown Stars — players, coaches, parents and volunteers — we want to pass on our deepest condolences to Amelia’s family, her friends, her teammates and her coaches. This is an unimaginably difficult time for all who knew and loved her.
“We are a grassroots football club, and moments like this remind us that the game we all pour so much into is about so much more than football.
“It’s about community, and right now our community’s thoughts are with Amelia’s family and everyone at Oxford United Women.”
A statement from Fulham FC Women added: “Everyone at Fulham Football Club is shocked and saddened to hear this news. Our thoughts are with Ameila’s family and friends, and all associated with Oxford United FC.”
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.
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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.
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.”
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