The Yellows were relegated to League One last weekend ahead of their 4-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday in which Will Lankshear scored an impressive brace, Will Vaulks and Myles Peart-Harris also getting on the scoresheet.

After a strong run of games which saw The U’s defeated only once in eight games, losses to Derby County and Wrexham proved the killer blow to their survival hopes.

A messy pre-season, lack of consistency and poor start to the campaign all proved factors in United’s struggle but one than data has highlighted is the late dropping of points in matches.

It has not happened on many occasions against Oxford, but if all Championship games so far this campaign were to have ended on the stroke of 90 minutes, The U’s would have retained their second-tier status.

An early example of this happening against The U’s was back in August when they were defeated 3-2 away at Hull City under Gary Rowett.

Rowett’s men had found themselves at 2-2 after just 26 minutes and were holding on for a draw in East Yorkshire.

Oxford United concede in stoppage time at Hull City (Image: Richard Parkes)

However, experienced striker Oli McBurnie had other ideas, finding a winner in the 93rd minute to break U’s hearts.

The most significant late disappointment, though, came more recently against relegation rivals Charlton Athletic in March.

A good performance and a first penalty in 675 days had seen Oxford lead 1-0 at the Kassam, Cameron Brannagan tucking away the long-awaited spot kick.

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Oxford United’s Cameron Brannagan celebrates scoring (Image: Steven Paston/PA Wire)

Late pressure came from the Addicks and a moment of weakness from centre back Ciaron Brown saw the Northern Ireland international pull Charlton defender Lloyd Jones to the floor in the penalty box.

Charlie Kelman stepped up in the 93rd minute to rescue a point for Nathan Jones’ side, snatching two from the grasp of Matt Bloomfield’s men.

Charlton Athletic’s Charlie Kelman celebrates scoring (Image: Steven Paston/PA Wire)

Charlton went on to be the closest rival to Oxford on the penultimate match day of the season, their draw against Hull last weekend seeing them climb out of The Yellows’ reach.

The late draw that the Addicks rescued in March is made all the more significant as, if stoppage time were not included this season, Charlton would be sitting in the relegation zone and six points worse off across the campaign.

The U’s would have one extra point, according to data from OLBG – each team’s position was calculated by taking away their goals scored in stoppage time and after the 75th minute in each respective game – and be out of the bottom three in 21st place.

The U’s had their relegation confirmed on Saturday ahead of their 4-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday and are set to return to the third tier of English football after two seasons in the Championship.

Head coach Matt Bloomfield admitted after the weekend’s win that preparations for next season would begin imminently and is has been reported by reporter Pete O’Rourke that The Yellows are set to battle Portsmouth for the signing of Villa starlet O’Reilly.

Oxford United head coach Matt Bloomfield (Image: Jason Dawson)

The 22-year-old has spent the current campaign on loan at League Two outfit Crewe Alexandra, netting seven goals and securing 11 assists in 45 fourth-tier appearances.

Crewe currently sit in 10th place in the division, 10 points away from the play-off places.

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O’Reilly endured his first loan spell away in 2024 at Villa’s sister club Real Union in Spain, but only managed two appearances as his six-month spell in the second half of 2023/24 was curtailed by injury.

He then spent six months in League One with struggling Shrewsbury before spending the second half of the 2024/25 campaign in League Two with MK Dons.

The attacking midfielder was been compared to Manchester City and England star Phil Foden by teammates at Villa due to his playing style, as well as drawing similarities to former Arsenal man and current Luton Town manager Jack Wilshere.

The U’s travel to The Den to face The Lions in their final second-tier match before returning to League One next season.

After having their relegation confirmed before kick-off due to earlier results elsewhere, Oxford beat Sheffield Wednesday 4-1 last time out.

United travel to South East London with nothing left to play for whilst their opponents will be looking to secure automatic promotion to the Premier League on the final day.

Alex Neil’s men currently sit third in the table and one point away from second-placed Ipswich Town, but Matt Bloomfield’s side will be trying to cause an upset as they aim to bow out of the Championship in style.

With all matches in the second division set to kick off at 12:30, two have selected for television coverage with The U’s game being one.

Oxford’s trip to Millwall will be shown live on Sky Sports Football, as Ipswich’s home clash with Queens Park Rangers will also be available on Sky Sports.

United are set to return to League One after two seasons in the Championship after being the third and final club to have relegation confirmed.

Leicester City and Sheffield Wednesday will join The Yellows in the third tier next season.