Oxford United

After Tuesday's home defeat to Wrexham and Blackburn's win on Wednesday, Oxford are six points adrift of Charlton Athletic with two games to play and a slightly worse goal difference.

Rock-bottom Sheffield Wednesday visit the Kassam Stadium on Saturday (15:00 BST), although Charlton have the opportunity to ensure their own survival before that game even kicks-off with a home game against Hull City at 12:30 BST.

Here are a selection of your responses:

John: There is always hope. Whatever the result, Matt Bloomfield has been a breath of fresh air and created a team which is 'in' games now and playing much better football. It might be too late to avoid relegation but I'm excited for him and Oxford in League One.

Rob: I'm quietly confident that it will go to the final games. Charlton have lost their past four home games to Bristol City, Preston, Norwich and Ipswich so hopefully that trend will continue on Saturday lunchtime against Hull.

I think we will beat Sheffield Wednesday in the afternoon as well. We are certainly capable of winning at Millwall on the final day and Swansea will hopefully beat Charlton too. It's all up for grabs!

Sam: It's the most wafer thin of wafer thin slices of a chance. If Oxford pull off two wins then they deserve to stay up, but, after the performance against Wrexham I feel we're looking at a team that's all but given up.

I think Bloomfield was the right man for the job, I think he's done brilliantly, but if I pop on my tin foil hat, I think he got the job because he will do us well in League One.

Sue: We should never have appointed Gary Rowett he has now proved it with his failed attempt to save a big club like Leicester. I hope that the true Oxford supporters will get behind the team whether Charlton win or lose.

Alan: Where there's life, there's hope; but being brutally honest we've not ever really looked like a Championship side - most other teams have looked stronger, fitter, better organised and technically superior.

It's been a wild two years and I'll miss being in the big leagues, but here's to a season of consolidation, rediscovering how to pass the ball, and winning a few more games.

Andy S: It was always going to be a struggle to stay up this season and we need a miracle against Sheffield Wednesday and Millwall to stay up, even if Charlton to lose both games, not sure I can see it happening.

We're probably more a League One-level club at the moment but come the new stadium, who knows? Brighter times ahead I hope.

Derek: Sadly a little too late, we are too good to go down but results didn't go our way. Portsmouth a typical example, we should have picked up three points. We will be in the mix to come back up next season.

Jonathan: Hopelessly positive despite all evidence pointing clearly to relegation; at least we've battled, the players have done us proud and we have put ourselves in a position where something might be possible on the final day! As they say, it's the hope...

It's been a tough week for Oxford United fans.

Back-to-back one-nil defeats at Derby on Saturday and then at home to Wrexham on Tuesday have left the U's on the brink of relegation to League One after two seasons in the Championship.

West Brom, Portsmouth and crucially Blackburn, on Wednesday night, have all picked up points in that period and have ensured their safety.

We're down to a two-horse race between Oxford and Charlton for the final relegation place.

Matt Bloomfield's men need to beat Sheffield Wednesday at the Kassam on Saturday (15:00 BST) and also win at promotion-chasing Millwall on the final day and must hope the Addicks lose their final two games, at home to Hull City on Saturday (12:30 BST) and at Swansea on 2 May.

How are you feeling, U's fans? Do you have any hope remaining? What would the mood be like at 3pm on Saturday should Charlton lose in the early-kick-off?

Click here to have your say.

Oxford United club captain and midfielder Cameron Brannagan has said his side want to take "every single point" left available this season.

The U's are in a tricky position with three games remaining, currently 22nd in the Championship table and are five points below Blackburn Rovers having played a game less.

They were narrowly beaten by Derby on Saturday and host Wrexham on Tuesday before games against Sheffield Wednesday and Millwall.

"We have to brush ourselves down and go again," Brannagan told BBC Radio Oxford.

"We have a big game Tuesday, three games left and we want to go and try and win every single one of them.

"There's nine points to play for and we want to take every single point. The fans got behind us the whole game and didn't stop even at the end.

"I'm sure the Kassam is going to be rocking on Tuesday and we're going to need every single one of them - it's another massive game."

If Oxford were to lose or draw on Tuesday against Wrexham then they could face relegation if results go against them in midweek for Blackburn, West Bromwich Albion, Charlton and Portsmouth.

But a win for Matt Bloomfield's side would ensure that cannot happen until at least the weekend.

Image source, Opta

Oxford United welcome Wrexham to the Kassam on Tuesday night (19:45 BST) for a game with huge implications in both the relegation battle and the play-off race.

After Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Derby the U's are five points from safety with three games to go and Matt Bloomfield's men could be relegated to League One as soon as Wednesday night, should they lose to Wrexham while Blackburn and West Brom pick up wins and Charlton avoid defeat.

The Red Dragons lie seventh, two points behind Hull City in the final play-off spot, and with a slightly better goal difference, having beaten Stoke 2-0 at the Stok Cae Ras last time out.

• Oxford have lost each of their past four home league games against Wrexham, with this the first time they're hosting them since November 2005 (0-3).

• Wrexham are unbeaten in their past 13 Football League games against Oxford United (W10 D3), their joint-longest run against a single side in their history (also 13 vs New Brighton between 1930 and 1936).

• Oxford are unbeaten in their past five home league games (W3 D2), picking up as many wins in that time as in their first 16 matches of 2025-26 (D6 L7).

• Wrexham, who failed to score in their last away league game at Birmingham (losing 2-0), have only once this season gone successive league matches on the road without scoring, doing so against Portsmouth and Ipswich in November in consecutive goalless draws.

• Just three of Oxford's past nine home league goals have come from open play, with them also scoring two from corners, two from free kicks and two penalties.

Image source, Shutterstock

Oxford United boss Matt Bloomfield spoke to BBC Radio Oxford following Saturday's defeat at Derby County.

"Arguably, we had the three best chances of the game – two breakaways and a great chance right at the end," he said.

"I was really disappointed with how we played in the first half and it was nowhere near good enough.

"By the end of the game, with our intensity, the way we played and the chances we created, it was very frustrating because it is a clear illustration that that if you take your chances you get the points.

"We haven't got the time to rest on it [the loss], it's done now and we have to move on very quickly to Tuesday evening and make sure that the intensity and the energy we had in the second half is there from the first whistle."

Image source, Getty Images

On Tuesday, we asked for your thoughts on whether or not Oxford United will avoid relegation from the Championship.

The U's are two points adrift of safety with four games to play - three of which are against sides challenging for promotion (Derby, Wrexham and Millwall), while the other comes against already-relegated Sheffield Wednesday.

Here are a selection of your responses:

Sam: Feeling very anxious. We need three wins out of four to be almost guaranteed a great escape. Derby and Millwall will be really tough, Wrexham have been pretty good all season and Sheffield Wednesday are going down fighting. The biggest worry is the possibility of losing some of our best signings and loanees if we go down.

James: Quite nervous but also I think we can survive this season. Hopefully the Baggies will drop points but all we need to do is win.

Nigel: I think Oxford United are playing some of the best football seen at the Kassam for a long time especially after the January transfer window and the new management team. I have looked at the fixture list for the bottom seven clubs and here is where I ended up: Portsmouth 18th - 55 points, Blackburn 19th - 52, West Brom 20th - 51, Oxford 21st - 51, Charlton 22nd - 50, Leicester 23rd - 45, Sheffield W 24th - 2.

William: This Championship has had plenty of twists and turns. I feel like there's still a few more to come, the last one being that Oxford, the smallest team in the division, stay up and send Leicester and West Brom down. Weeks ago we thought we were down and out, yet we're still here and fighting. Come on you yellows!

Mike: We have given ourselves a chance of beating relegation. However, given Portsmouth's form it may be WBA we are chasing.

Jonathan: Looking at Blackburn's fixtures as the toughest bar ours, I think they could be the team to reel in. Fundamentally, we need to win our games, which I think we can regardless of who might be "on the beach" or not as we are playing well. With a fair wind we could be celebrating staying up at full-time against Sheffield Wednesday in our final home game in a week! Or maybe that's too positive with Derby and Wrexham to play before then…

Gavin: I think it would take the magic 50 points to do it and stay up. So that's six more. A win against Derby or Wrexham and finishing the home season with a win and safety against Sheff Wed would be the dream. However, there could be help in the form of WBA getting points deduction - but let's not rely on that!

Mark: We need to win three out of the final four, which is a tall order. Even then, it may not be enough. But if we do go down, we do it with our heads held high and we do it together. COYY!

Michael: Oxford are going to have to win some very tough games that few expect them to if they are to stay up. But they will also feel unlucky if they are relegated, given their form has seen them only lose to Southampton in the past two months, and Saints are the best team in the Championship right now.

Based on that good form and the belief and togetherness around the club, they have a chance, particularly as the likes of Leicester, West Brom and Blackburn - despite boasting far more expensive squads - seem not nearly as confident or consistent at the moment.

Oxford are also now well used to a relegation scrap and thrive on being underdogs, particularly against higher-ranked teams in the division. It's impossible to call, but their destiny is at least in their own hands - and it certainly didn't look like it would be three months ago.

Derby's hopes of a Championship play-off push took a knock last time out after they suffered a 2-1 defeat at Southampton.

The Rams sit two places and five points adrift of the top six and a positive result on Saturday could keep their play-off hopes alive.

Oxford ended a four-game winless run when they picked up a vital three points against Watford last Saturday.

The U's remain in the bottom three despite that win and are two points off Championship safety.

• Derby have failed to score in their past two league games against Oxford, only once going three without a goal against them (between 1987 and 1991).

• In what is the ninth different league campaign in which the two sides have met, Oxford are looking to complete the double over Derby for the first time.

• Derby have won their past five home league matches, last having a longer run between March and September 2024 (9).

• Oxford have won four of their past eight league games (D3 L1), more wins than they managed in their previous 22 Championship matches combined (3).

• Carlton Morris has scored 12 league goals for Derby this season - the last player to net more in a single Championship campaign for the club was Harry Wilson in 2018-19 (16 – incl. play-offs).

Things can change pretty fast in the midst of a Championship relegation scrap, hey Oxford fans?

Things were looking incredibly rosy at Kassam Stadium at 16:54 BST on Saturday with Oxford United leading Watford 2-0 and set to exit the relegation zone at the expense of Portsmouth.

However, seconds later Pompey snatched a 97th-minute winner at Middlesbrough to end an eight-match winless streak just as the final whistle sounded in Oxfordshire.

Fast forward to Tuesday night and Portsmouth picked up another win against a promotion chaser, Ipswich, at Fratton Park and climbed to 19th, now four points clear of the U's.

With four games remaining Matt Bloomfield's side lie 22nd, two points adrift of fourth-bottom West Brom, whose goal difference is one worse.

Three of Oxford's final four games are against sides in, or chasing the play-offs, in Derby on Saturday (12:30), Wrexham and Millwall, with the visit of lowly Sheffield Wednesday in between.

How are you feeling, U's fans? How many points do you think will be enough to survive? Is it a straight shootout with West Brom, or can second-bottom Leicester mount a comeback from three points back, and can Blackburn and Portsmouth be dragged back into it?

Click here to have your say.

"I feel like the balance throughout the side looks good. I like the dynamic of the front four, I think there's a threat there. I think we're looking pretty solid, I think the midfield looks well balanced with a little bit more creativity."

"There's a lot of positives from a performance point of view which gives us hope for the next four games."

The Dub podcast dissects what's been going right at Oxford United after the most positive week of the season, following a crucial 2-0 victory over Watford.

Robin Cowen, Ben Purkiss, George Elek and Jerome Sale also reflect on Mark Harris' impact, recent encouraging performance levels and Oxford's chances of survival.

Listen to more episodes of Oxford United podcast The Dub on BBC Sounds.

Marc Webber
BBC Final Score

Image source, Getty Images

Forty years ago, Oxford United achieved the unthinkable and won the Milk Cup (what we now know as the Carabao Cup).

Jim Smith, the manager who got them to the top flight, was sitting in the opposition dugout at Wembley that day and could only watch in disbelief as his chief scout Maurice Evans instigated a masterclass in 'underdoggery' to beat his QPR favourites and lift the trophy.

In the same season, Evans kept the U's in the First Division against all odds.

Why do I raise this after watching Oxford beat Watford on Saturday?

Because I genuinely felt that Spirit of '86 revitalised in the team and the fans during that game at the Kassam Stadium.

Yellow flags were waving like a semaphore convention and the cheering was as loud as if it were coming from a six-sided stadium, not three.

Meanwhile, on the pitch, Matt Bloomfield's team chased every ball and never gave up, even when Watford looked like they could pinch a goal later in the second half.

You know you have done a good job when the opposing fans boo their players off the pitch at the end.

Oxford United should have got more points out of recent games, yet they are still on for a great escape.

If Maurice Evans' 1986 team did not believe, they would have been out of the cup and the league, but they never stopped believing and that Spirit of '86 needs to be repeated in 2026 as United fight through these last few games.

It is the best asset the club has right now.

Head coach Matt Bloomfield praised forward Myles Peart-Harris after Oxford United's 2-0 win at home to Watford.

"It's nice for Myles to get his goal," Bloomfield told BBC Radio Oxford. "He's been very good for us and we want more goals from him, as he wants more goals from himself.

"I'm so incredibly pleased [for] Mark Harris – he's everything a professional footballer should be.

"He lives his life properly, is humble and works hard every single day. He's selfless for the team and plays up front and out wide. He absolutely deserves it.

"When you look at the results, it was even more imperative that we won. As I said inside the dressing room, we can't worry about what happens elsewhere.

"We can't affect that; if we get too sidetracked and spend too much energy looking elsewhere, we'll take the focus off what we need to do.

"We're in this position, we've got four games to go and we have to focus on ourselves. There are going to be results that you don't expect or see coming.

"We have to be positive, keep moving forward and keep going after those performances, because it was a joy to watch us - especially in the second half - and we want four more of them."

Image source, Getty Images

The EFL has announced the fixtures for the 2026-27 season will be published at midday on Thursday, 25 June.

The first-round draws for the Carabao Cup and the Vertu Trophy will be made on the same day.

The new season will kick off on the weekend of August 7-9 with the first round of the Carabao Cup, and the opening fixtures in the Championship, League One and League Two will follow a week later on 14-16 August.

The first round of the Vertu Trophy will be played in the week commencing 21 September.

Image source, Shutterstock

Southampton's Tonda Eckert has been named the Championship's manager of the month for March.

The Saints went unbeaten in the league last month, winning three and drawing one of their four games including a victory at the leaders Coventry.

The Sky Blues' Frank Lampard, Matt Bloomfield of Oxford United and West Brom interim boss James Morrison were also nominated.

Eckert also won the award in February when Southampton were again unbeaten and have continued their good form into April, moving into the play-off places as well as reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

They meet Derby at home on Saturday (15:00 BST).