Oxford United

Plenty at stake as Oxford United welcome Portsmouth to the Kassam on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

Pompey go into the game with a four-point cushion over the relegation zone with the Us just two places, but a further five points, ahead of them in 16th.

John Mousinho's side haven't picked up a point on the road since a draw at Swansea in November while their only away win came six weeks earlier at QPR.

Gary Rowett's United side have suffered just one defeat since Boxing Day - a run of 11 games - which was a 1-0 reverse at Burnley last week, though they are winless in four, scoring just once across those games.

• Oxford United have won just one of their past 10 league games against Portsmouth (D6 L3) and are winless in their last six games (D4 L2).

• Portsmouth have only won one of their past seven EFL visits to Oxford (D3 L3); a 1-0 victory in February 2021.

• After one win in eight home league games between September and December (D4 L3), Oxford have won four of their past five games (D1).

• Portsmouth have lost each of their past seven away league games; their longest run since March 2006 in the Premier League (9 games).

• Portsmouth's Callum Lang has more league goals against Oxford (6 in 7 games) than any other side, netting in each of his last four league games against them.

Image source, Rex Features

Oxford United boss Gary Rowett has said that he expects striker Tom Bradshaw to be out for "a good few weeks".

The striker was left out of Oxford's squad in their scoreless draw with Derby County on Tuesday night because of an injury to his MCL (medial collateral ligament).

"I don't think he's going to be back quickly," Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford.

"I think it will be a matter of weeks, a good few weeks. It's disappointing for us."

Bradshaw signed for Oxford from Millwall midway through January and has since made five appearances and is still yet to score for the U's.

This setback leaves Oxford with just one senior striker in Mark Harris after loanee striker Dane Scarlett was recalled by his parent club Tottenham Hotspur.

Rowett has only lost one Championship match since his appointment and his team are 16th, nine points above the relegation zone.

Andrew Aloia
BBC Sport, East Midlands

Image source, Getty Images

Swapping a promotion push with Blackburn Rovers for a relegation battle with Derby County is "too simplistic" a way to look at head coach John Eustace's potential move, says Oxford United boss Gary Rowett.

Eustace is close to leaving sixth-placed Rovers for a Derby side that moved out of the relegation places on goal difference on Tuesday night after picking up a point against Rowett's Oxford in a underwhelming goalless draw at Pride Park.

Rowett spoke before the match about expecting the 45-year-old former Rams midfielder to take the helm of a club be featured for across two spells.

Despite being at opposite ends of the table, it is understood that Eustace believes that Derby are the better long-term project. And with him and his family living in the region, location is also seen as motivating factor behind the potential move.

"It's very difficult to judge that decision," Rowett told BBC Sport.

"It's very easy to be black and white and say one team is sixth and one team is fourth from bottom when trying to understand why.

"Unless you are in a certain person's shoes, it's hard to judge why they want to make that decision. Both clubs are very good clubs, there is a history [as a player] with this club with someone like John.

"I'm not judging that, it's not for me to make comment on it, but I think it is a little too simplistic to think about it in those terms.

"What I would say is that it is very difficult to get into that position in the Championship [play-off spots], so there must be some form of a reason and I can only presume why he would want to make that move."

Image source, Rex Features

Oxford United boss Gary Rowett spoke to written media after his side shared the points with Derby County in a goalless draw at Pride Park.

"It was a difficult game, as we knew it would be. It was quite physical, which Derby tried to make it. It's a strength they have got.

"It was a game that lacked quality. I thought we got embroiled in a little bit of a fight and little bit of a scrap.

"It was disappointing from our perspective, having only lost to Burnley in 11 games we have shown a level of quality and today we didn't quite do that. But you also have to be respectful of the division and teams are fighting for their lives aren't they.

"The fact that the [manager of the month] curse didn't strike at Derby was also nice."

Image source, Getty Images

Oxford United boss Gary Rowett says he "expects" John Eustace to become the new Derby County head coach - but it won't change his approach to the game against them on Tuesday night either way.

Rowett suffered his first loss as U's boss at Burnley last week, having previously gone on a nine-game unbeaten run since taking over (W5 D4).

The 50-year-old returns to Pride Park, where he made 120 appearances as a player between 1995 and 1998 and managed from March 2017 to May 2018.

"It's a club I know really well, a club I've got a lot of fondness for, a lot of time for," Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford.

"But ultimately, we're going back there trying to win the game, like I have done many times going back there as an opposition manager."

Paul Warne was sacked as Rams boss on Friday and Matt Hamshaw took temporary charge for their 1-1 draw at Norwich the following day.

Derby are understood to have made an official approach for Blackburn Rovers head coach Eustace but are yet to name their new boss.

"I don't know whether the situation will make a lot of difference to us in terms of what we've got to do," Rowett said.

"We will be prepared like we always are away from home and regardless of whether they do or don't have a new manager, we won't take the game in any different vein.

"My presumption - and it's probably not founded on anything other than presumption - is that at some point, John Eustace will probably be Derby manager.

"So, whether that's at some point tomorrow and he takes the game or whether he's at the game - whatever that is, I think if you're a Derby player, you're going to perform for the staff there like they did on Saturday.

"But you're also going to have half an eye on 'there might be a new manager somewhere out there watching', whether they're in the stands or the dugout, so I don't think it will change anything."

Oxford United are looking to bounce back from their first defeat of 2025 as they make the trip to managerless Derby County on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).

The U's had not lost since boss Gary Rowett's appointment in December but faltered to a 1-0 defeat against Burnley last time out.

While, the Rams ended a seven game losing streak with a draw against Norwich City on the weekend but remain a relegation threat.

• Derby County have lost just one of their last six league games against Oxford United (W4 D1), though the Rams did lose their last home match against the U's 2-1 in August 2023.

• Oxford United have won three of their last six away league games against Derby County (D1 L2), with each of those three victories coming via a one-goal margin.

• Derby County have lost their last four home league games without scoring a single goal, with three of those 1-0 defeats. The Rams last had a longer home losing run between July and October 2020 (5), while the Rams have never lost five in a row without scoring, with this their 2,558th home game in the Football League since being founder members in 1888.

• Oxford United suffered their first league defeat under Gary Rowett last time out against Burnley (W5 D4). The former Derby manager has won each of his last four away league games at Pride Park (one with Birmingham, three with Millwall).

• Although Oxford striker Tom Bradshaw only has one Championship goal in seven appearances against Derby, that goal came in a 1-0 win at Pride Park under current U's manager Gary Rowett, when he was manager of Millwall in December 2019.

Image source, Rex Features

Burnley keeper James Trafford has been named the Championship player of the month for January.

The 22-year-old did not concede a single goal, keeping six clean sheets and saving two Wilson Isidor penalties in the dying minutes to ensure a point against promotion-rivals Sunderland.

Burnley manager Scott Parker told the EFL website, external: "This is well deserved. James has been incredible all season, not just this month. Since I arrived he has been a top professional and a rock for the team."

Sky Sports' EFL pundit Don Goodman said: "On individual performance, it would be difficult to have a more perfect month than James Trafford.

"Burnley's defensive stability is going to be the key in their bid for promotion, and Trafford is central to that."

Coventry midfielder Jamie Allen, Oxford United defender Ciaron Brown and Sunderland keeper Anthony Patterson were also up for the award.

Image source, Rex Features

On Wednesday we asked what you made of Oxford United's business in the transfer window.

The Us signed five players: Striker Tom Bradshaw from Millwall, Ole Romeny from Eredivisie side FC Utrecht, defender Michal Helik from Huddersfield, Chelsea U20's player Alex Matos and winger Stanley Mills who has returned to the club on a permanent deal from Everton after impressing on loan last season.

Here are some of your responses:

Nigel: Some good signings and a couple of odd ones. Jury still out on Bradshaw and Romeny, but Helik looks a monster. Stan Mills, if he get's back to his usual self, could be a huge asset. Matos looks a big talent. Things are looking up.

John: If it's enough to keep us in the division, it's good enough for me! Once the new stadium gets the green light, we'll see the next level of investment in the playing squad.

Alan: Matos and Helik look like outstanding signings and bring real quality to the squad. Bradshaw offers more Championship experience and good competition for Mark Harris. Romeny is an unknown quantity but offers another forward option, and I'm delighted to see Stan Mills back, even if he's more likely to be one for the future. Hope he's not lost any of his pace following his awful injury last season.

Of course, our best signing has been Gary Rowett, who's brought solidity, organisation and confidence to the team. Think the squad we have now is good enough to keep us in the Championship.

Hugh: Pretty uninspiring. Vaulks was the one player who needed to go, due to his erratic behaviour in matches under Buckingham. The fact that he's improved under Rowett cuts no ice with me at all and his booking at Burnley was just par for the course.

David: Good to get business done early and not be making desperate signings on deadline day. Some really big budgets in the Championship so our scouting network has to be spot on.

Jonathan: Forget the talk of needing a goalscorer, what we need is a playmaker who can create the chances for Harris, Bradshaw and the other attackers to get on the end of. We struggled to make any clear-cut chances against 11,10, and nine-man Bristol City and Burnley. Talk of a "proven goal scorer" doesn't hold much water when our current strikers are only used to close down defenders and make a nuisance of themselves without them getting the service they need.

Oliver: Happy we've added experience and proven Championship players whilst also looking to the future, these players will do a job in the Championship or in League One, and we can't ask much more than that!

Jon: Everyone coming in has improved the squad and very few outgoings. It was a big shame to see Dane Scarlett released, especially when we still have a spare squad space for a loan player and a need for a goal-scoring striker. Highlight of the window is Stan Mills' return but Alex Matos is a revelation. A very good 7.5/10.

Image source, Getty Images

Coventry midfielder Jamie Allen, Oxford United defender Ciaron Brown, Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson and Burnley stopper James Trafford are the four nominees for the Championship's player of the month award for January.

Allen was injured when Frank Lampard first took over at the Sky Blues but his return to action helped City climb the table with his energy, ability to break up play and influence leading to him being handed the captain's armband.

Oxford's form since Gary Rowett took over has caught the eye and Brown has been at the heart of their improved defensive displays, helping the U's keep three clean sheets in six games in January and netting a neat equaliser against Luton to boot.

Black Cats keeper Patterson helped Sunderland keep three clean sheets in five games during the month, saving a penalty at 0-0 in an eventual win against Sheffield United, producing a brilliant one-handed stop in the goalless draw at Burnley and helping preserve a 1-0 win at Derby.

Clarets keeper Trafford was unbeatable in January with a pristine record of six clean sheets with the highlights coming in that stalemate against Burnley's promotion rivals as he saved two Wilson Isidor penalties in the dying minutes against Sunderland as well as making a crucial late stop against Leeds.

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Queens Park Rangers' Marti Cifuentes, Sunderland's Regis Le Bris, Cardiff's Omer Riza and Oxford United's Gary Rowett are the four nominees for the Championship's manager of the month award for January.

It's a second straight nomination for Cifuentes, who guided the Hoops to four wins from their five matches in the month to pull further away from danger and towards the play-off pack.

Le Bris's Sunderland kept pace with the automatic promotion race off the back of an unbeaten month, picking up 11 points from five matches, including a 2-1 win over rivals Sheffield United and a goalless draw at Burnley.

Riza also guided Cardiff to an unbeaten month, taking 10 points from six matches, including a memorable 3-0 win over Swansea City in the south Wales derby, and a comeback at Millwall to snatch a 2-2 draw in the dying seconds.

Oxford United's resurgence under Rowett continued with an unbeaten January, claiming 12 points from six matches to haul the U's away from the relegation zone and into mid-table.

The winner of the award will be announced on Friday morning.

Image source, Rex Features

It's time to talk about Oxford United's transfer business...

The Us signed five players including striker Tom Bradshaw from Millwall, Ole Romeny from Eredivisie side FC Utrecht, defender Michal Helik from Huddersfield, Chelsea U20's player Alex Matos and winger Stanley Mills who has returned to the club on a permanent deal from Everton after impressing on loan last season.

Gary Rowett has trimmed the squad with several players leaving on loan in an attempt to get numbers within the 25-man limit.

The Us are 10 points clear of the drop zone and only seven adrift of the play-off places, so will the final three months of the season be spent looking up rather than over their shoulder?

We want you to tell us what you think about United's transfer dealings...

Let us know your thoughts here.

Image source, Rex Features

Oxford United midfielder Alex Matos says he is happy to play in a number of positions for his new side following the 1-0 defeat to Burnley on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old joined the U's until the end of the season on loan from Chelsea during the transfer window and is keen to show his versatility after failing to make a single appearance for the Blues in the first half of this season.

"No, I don't mind it at all," Matos told BBC Radio Oxford in response to being asked to play two separate roles during the narrow loss at Turf Moor.

"I've played in quite a lot of positions when I was younger, so, my natural position is that I'm more of a deeper player.

"But, I can definitely play more advanced and I thought today I showed my quality in the first half".

Matos started the match as an attacking midfielder behind sole striker Tom Bradshaw, but following the half-time introduction of Siriki Dembele, the Chelsea loanee moved back to his more familiar role as a holding midfielder.

"I don't think it's too hard for me [to play two different positions]," Matos added.

"I did it before, when I was younger, and I understand both roles very well. I'm very happy with my performance."

Image source, Getty Images

Oxford United boss Gary Rowett spoke to BBC Radio Oxford after the U's 1-0 defeat at promotion-chasing Burnley.

"We carried a threat, and I think we got into some good positions without perhaps creating as much as we'd like," he said.

"After a good start they settled into their game. You can clearly see they're a very good side which is why they're going to be competing for the top two positions.

"Sometimes when you're playing a good side who can stretch you in the way that they do it makes it very difficult to do anything other than to try and be compact, and that takes away from your ability to attack for long periods.

"When you look at the trajectory of our team and where the team's come from out of League One to, I think, more than competing in this division, and actually looking like the next step for us is to see if we can compete a little bit better in these types of games.

"I think that is a real positive and there were a lot of positives to come out of the game."

Janine Bailey
Chair of Oxford United Supporters' panel

Image source, Rex Features

For most football fans, January is a month for speculating on whether our club will land a 25-goal-a-season striker, manage to keep our best players and offload peripheral players to other clubs.

Most Oxford United fans would agree that, whilst we may not have signed the elusive striker, we have nonetheless had a successful transfer window that has strengthened the squad.

But for Oxford United fans there is a bigger transfer on the horizon as we leave January behind.

Having been given notice to leave the current stadium, which is not owned by the club, Oxford United hope to construct a new stadium and community facilities at the Triangle near Oxford Parkway station.

There have been consultations, thousands of pages of planning documents, comments from the local community, responses from the planning team and further documentation.

Now we head into the final straight, with the current consultation period ending on 8 February. The planning officers at Cherwell District Council will then review the latest submissions and make their recommendation to the planning committee.

The target decision date is the end of March. The January transfer window may well have set us up well for the rest of this season, but the long-term future of the club will only be assured by a positive decision in March.

Burnley could close the gap on Championship leaders Leeds to just two points if they can end their run of stalemates at Turf Moor when Oxford United visit on Tuesday night (19:45 GMT).

Burnley have scored the fewest number of goals of any team in the top six with 36 in 30 games, though the Clarets have by far the best defensive record across the entire top four divisions, conceding just nine league goals all season.

The Us could climb as high as 14th and put 13 points between themselves and the drop-zone if they can cause an upset in east Lancashire.

• Burnley have lost just two of their past 14 league games against Oxford United (W5 D7), winning their last such home match against the U's 3-2 in December 1999.

• Oxford United have won just one of their seven away league games against Burnley (D4 L2), a 2-0 victory at Turf Moor in January 1996.

• Each of Burnley's past three Championship home games have all finished 0-0. The only second tier side in English league history to have four successive home matches end goalless were Wolves in March/April 2016.

• Oxford United are unbeaten in four away league games (W1 D3), last going longer without defeat on the road in December 2022 (7 games).

• Oxford United's Gary Rowett has won none of his four Championship games against Burnley as a manager (D2 L2); only against Bournemouth (5) has he taken charge of more matches in the division without ever winning.

The latest episode of BBC Radio Oxford's podcast The Dub - covering all things Oxford United - is now available.

On this week's edition the team discuss Saturday's draw with Bristol City, the possibility of any transfer deadline day signings and look ahead to Tuesday night's trip to Burnley.

You can listen to more episodes of The Dub on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Oxford head coach Gary Rowett was left to rue the defensive lapse that denied his side a fifth consecutive home win as they drew 1-1 with nine-man Bristol City.

The U's were 1-0 up through Greg Leigh – with their opponents already down to 10 men – when Sinclair Armstrong drew a foul from Michal Helik and City took advantage to level through Mark Sykes.

"It's frustrating in some ways, when you go 1-0 up you expect to then control the rest of the game," Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford. "We give away one silly free-kick which gives them one chance – and you only need one chance to score.

"The way the game went, as soon as they got back to 1-1 I felt it'd be hard to break them down. It was one of those where you need something to drop for someone, you need a little bit of fortune and whenever it did, it seemed to drop to them.

"At the start of the game we didn't play with enough composure, I thought we were a little bit wasteful with our possession and didn't manage to break them down as much we'd like. When we played it wide quickly, we got into good areas.

"We'd won four games out of four here so we want to win every game, I don't think you're ever happy with a point at home."