Oxford United

Championship leaders Leeds make their first visit to Oxford for 35 years and know they just have to keep things sensible over the remaining four games to keep Sheffield United at arm's length in the race to go up automatically.

With the late kick-off (20:00 BST) at the Kassam Stadium, Daniel Farke's side will know a bit more about what they need to do. Even if the Blades beat Cardiff (17:00 BST), a draw for Leeds will keep them, effectively four points clear, given their superior goal difference.

• Oxford United have lost four of their previous seven English Football League encounters with Leeds United (W2 D1), including each of the past three by an aggregate score of 10-3.

• This will be Leeds United's first EFL trip to Oxford United since a 4-2 win in March 1990 under Howard Wilkinson. Indeed, the three previous fixtures have averaged six goals per game.

• Oxford have lost only one of their past six league games on Good Friday (W2 D3), both scoring (9) and conceding (9) in each of those games.

• Leeds have won just one of their past six league games on Good Friday (D3 L2), drawing 2-2 at Watford last time in 2024.

• Only Leeds teammate Dan James (13 – seven goals, six assists) has more Championship goal involvements in 2025 than Manor Solomon (11 – five goals, six assists), with three involvements in his past two games (one goal, two assists).

Jerome Sale
BBC Radio Oxford's Oxford United commentator

Image source, Rex Features

Some Oxford fans may privately be annoyed that I've even been asked to write this about the Championship relegation battle (there's no mention of Preston or QPR who have only a point or two more than United), but you would struggle to find one who would admit it.

The U's success - and staying up would be a big achievement - has been built on taking nothing for granted. It was key when they picked up valuable wins in the early weeks of the season and remains true at the end.

As they check the league table to gauge what is required, it is only recently that supporters' muscle memory has stopped them having to type in "League One".

One win should do it, a point or two might. They might not need any more than the 48 points they have already accrued, but this club started the season as relegation favourites.

Their remaining home matches are against promotion hopefuls Leeds and Sunderland. The game at Cardiff on Easter Monday looks the most significant. If it goes to the wire at Swansea, it has gone wrong.

Gary Rowett has done exactly what he was recruited to do.

It may come as a surprise to many because Oxford have made hard work of it at times, but the form since he arrived at Christmas would get you a top 10 finish if played out over the season.

Recent wins over Watford, Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United have his side on the brink of confirming survival and even allowing themselves a moment of satisfaction before the inevitable "second-season" syndrome worries kick in.

It would be a nice problem to have.

"Take out the disappointment of the midweek defeat against QPR. For us to pick up six points from these three games, for us to beat the team that were top of the league in Sheffield United, for us to then go away from home and win, which we've done so few times this season… it is a seismic win."

Those are the thoughts of Oxford United supporter and podcaster George Elek after the U's picked up a crucial 1-0 victory at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday in the battle to avoid relegation from the Championship.

It was just a second away win in the league this season for Oxford, which helped them move six points clear of the drop zone with four games to play.

Elek appeared on The Dub podcast alongside BBC's Robyn Cowen and Jerome Sale, as well as former defender Ben Purkiss.

They discuss "the most Oxford United seven days imaginable" and whether or not the win at Hillsborough means they are now "close" to safety in their first season back in the second tier since 1998-99.

Listen to the full episode of The Dub podcast on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Oxford United boss Gary Rowett said his side "stepped up" on Saturday when they beat Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship.

The U's scored late on through Sam Long's header to put themselves six points clear of the league's bottom three.

"There was lots of the performance I liked, we only had to hang on a little bit at the end," Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford.

"The game was reflective of our season, we seem to get a big win, then let ourselves down a bit, and then step up and show a bit of character.

"I thought we grew into the game in the second half and that platform allowed us to get the goal. It didn't feel comfortable on the sidelines but we managed to get there.

"We had a little bit of fortune that they didn't take one or two moments they had, and we rode that part of the game and came back into it, which I was really pleased about

"This team is full of character and we just have to make the best of the tools we have, the players gave everything.

"Today we stepped up and it is a huge, huge three points."

The U's remaining four fixtures include home games against promotion-chasers Leeds United and Sunderland, and away matches against Cardiff City and Swansea City.

Sheffield Wednesday are looking to end a four-game losing run at home to keep alive their slim Championship play-off hopes.

Oxford United are just three points clear of the relegation zone as they search for a second away win of the season.

• After their 3-1 win in December, Sheffield Wednesday could complete only their second league double over Oxford United, after 1985-86.

• Oxford United are unbeaten in their past four away league games at Sheffield Wednesday (W2 D2) since a 6-1 defeat in October 1986.

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost each of their past four home league games in succession, last enduring a longer losing run at Hillsborough in December 2009 (5).

• Oxford have won just one of their 20 away league games this season (D7 L12), scoring more than one goal in just two of those matches.

• Djeidi Gassama has scored seven league goals this season, the most by a player while aged 21 or younger in a campaign for Sheffield Wednesday since Connor Wickham in 2013-14 (8).

Oxford United welcome QPR to the Kassam Stadium on Wednesday night (19:45 BST), with just one point separating both sides in the Championship table.

The U's will be hoping to build on their stunning 1-0 win against title chasers Sheffield United over the weekend, and continue an upturn in form.

QPR on the other hand have only picked up two points since mid-February and are at serious risk of being dragged into the relegation scrap.

• This will be Oxford United's first home league game against Queens Park Rangers since September 1998, a game which they won 4-1 under Malcolm Shotton.

• After their 2-0 win in December, QPR could record their first league double over Oxford United since 1996-97.

• Oxford United have won each of their previous three midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) home league games, scoring three goals in both of their last two.

• QPR have lost each of their past six away league outings, last losing more on the bounce in January 2015 as a Premier League club (11).

• QPR have won just one of their previous 24 away league games against newly promoted sides (D9 L14), a 3-0 victory at Hull in August 2021.

"Being 1-0 up at home to the top of the league in a game with massive significance is what it's all about - but that doesn't mean that, during the second half, I didn't basically spend the whole time feeling physically sick and not enjoying a second of it until the final whistle was blown."

Robyn Cowen and Jerome Sale are joined by former Oxford United defender Ben Purkiss and podcaster George Elek to discuss the U's stunning win over title-chasing Sheffield United, the quality of goalkeeper Jamie Cumming and the weapon that is the long throw as Oxford continue to fight to stay in the Championship.

Was it completely unexpected? Or was this a typical Oxford home performance that's paid off against a Sheffield United side lacking that moment of magic?

Includes interviews with Blades boss Chris Wilder and U's midfielder Cameron Brannagan.

Listen to the full episode and more on The Dub podcast.

Image source, Rex Features

Oxford United boss Gary Rowett praised his side for taking the fight to Sheffield United in their 1-0 victory at the Kassam Stadium.

Siriki Dembele scored the only goal to blunt the Blades' promotion charge and ease Oxford's own relegation fears.

Rowett said his side deserved the win because of the battling qualities they showed.

"From the word go, we looked on it today," he told BBC Radio Oxford.

"We had to make it a little scruffy, we had to make it into a fight, but we know how good a side they are.

"One thing that did help, I thought the atmosphere was brilliant from the start, and that made such a massive difference to me, the staff and the players."

The U's are now four points clear of danger but Rowett said they must continue to perform.

"It's nowhere near job done, but it gives us a fantastic opportunity to go again on Wednesday against QPR who are fighting for their own points, but we've got to enjoy the performance and the desire of today.

"You've got to dig in, do whatever it takes to get the three points, and then put your feet up and watch whatever it is you like on a Saturday night."

Dan George
BBC Sport, South

Image source, Getty Images

Oxford United boss Gary Rowett has called for his players to "step up" as they approach the final Championship games of the season.

With relegation rivals Luton Town unbeaten in their past three matches, and Derby County winning each of their past four, the U's have slipped to within two points of the bottom three after just one win in eleven.

In their remaining seven games they face three of the league's top four at the Kassam Stadium.

"We know we have some really tough games at home and it's important we step up." Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford.

"The crowd have been brilliant recently and that is something we have to utilise through these last matches.

"If we maintain the form we have shown so far then the home games will be enough to get us through."

On Saturday, Oxford will take on league leaders Sheffield United, who have the best away record in the division.

The Blades have won 12 and lost three matches on the road this campaign.

Oxford were beaten 3-0 at Bramall Lane in the reverse fixture in November, as Chris Wilder's side made it seven wins in a row at home without conceding a single goal.

Coming into this game, Sheffield United have won each of their past six away league games – they have never previously won seven in a row on the road.

"The players know that when you come up against these sort of teams you have to do a little bit more," Rowett added.

"You can do more and still get punished though because these teams have such quality.

"But you can pick a few times in the season when these top teams don't have the level of performance needed on the day and that's when you have to capitalise."

Championship leaders Sheffield United could find themselves out of the automatic promotion places by the time they kick-off at Oxford United on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Blades have a two-point lead over Leeds and Burnley with seven games remaining but both the Whites and Clarets play at 12:30 BST, visiting Luton and Coventry respectively.

After a bright start under Gary Rowett, the U's have hit the skids, winning just one of their past 11 games, though that did come in their last home game, beating Watford 1-0.

Chris Wilder's side have won six straight away games, all by the odd goal, which is their best run on the road in 132 years.

• Oxford United have lost nine of their past 10 games in all competitions against Sheffield United (W1), including a 3-0 defeat earlier this season.

• This is Sheffield United's first league visit to Oxford since March 2017 in League One, winning 3-2 with two goals from Billy Sharp and one from Kieron Freeman.

• Oxford have won one of their past 11 league matches (D4 L6), having won five of their previous seven matches beforehand.

• Sheffield United have won each of their past six away league games – they've never previously won seven in a row on the road (also six in the 1892-93 season).

• Rhian Brewster has scored in each of his past two Championship appearances for Sheffield United – he's never scored three in games in a row in his league career.

Image source, Rex Features

Oxford United boss Gary Rowett is hopeful midfielder Cameron Brannagan will be available to face Sheffield United on Saturday.

The 28-year-old missed Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough because of a knee injury.

"He's had a problem with a ligament in his knee where it's been a little bit sore and he felt it again on Thursday so we felt we couldn't take the risk with him with seven games to go, two at home in particular," Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford.

"He's seen a specialist so hopefully it's not bad news and he should be available for the next game."

Oxford have managed just one win from their past 11 Championship matches and are four points above the relegation zone with Rowett bemoaning injuries.

"We've found in this last 10 games we've had to patch up late in the week and even during games when we find a formation, someone goes down and that formation is difficult to play so we have to try to grind our way through it," he said.