Oxford United

Image source, Rex Features

Oxford United are currently meandering around the bottom half of the table but, with nine points between them and the relegation zone, many fans are beginning to feel optimistic about a second season in the Championship.

The U's are on a great run, unbeaten since new boss Gary Rowett took the helm in December, which has helped lift them to 16th on 36 points.

It puts them out of immediate striking distance from the bottom six and five points ahead of Cardiff City in 18th.

"It's pretty anomalous to go down with that many points," journalist George Elek told the Dub podcast.

"For these teams to all overtake us, they all have to massively improve."

Though Oxford do have some tough games ahead of them which threaten to end Rowett's dazzling start.

They welcome former boss Liam Manning back to the Kassam Stadium as eighth placed Bristol City visit on Saturday (12:30 GMT), before a trip to promotion-contenders Burnley three days later (19:45 GMT).

"When you look at our fixtures - especially at home, where we are playing some of the best teams in the league, and the home games are where we've relied on for our points so far - I definitely accept that it's hard to plot where we are going to pick up these points," Elek said.

"But, we now pick up points on the road.

"I don't want to jinx it but I don't think we are that far away."

Oxford United are currently 16th and welcome Bristol City to the Kassam Stadium on Saturday lunchtime looking to extend their eight-game unbeaten run.

The Robins are eighth and just three points shy of the play-off spots, having lost just one of their past seven games (W4 D2).

• Oxford United have lost just two of their past 15 league games against Bristol City (W6 D7), though those two defeats have come across their past three meetings with the Robins.

• After winning the reverse fixture 2-1 in September, Bristol City are looking to complete a first league double over Oxford United in the EFL.

• Oxford are unbeaten across their past eight league games (W5 D3), their longest run in the second tier since November 1992 (also eight games).

• Since winning on back-to-back trips in the Championship in early November (v Preston North End and Norwich City), Bristol City have gone winless in their past seven league away games (D3 L4).

• Oxford's Ciaron Brown has netted three goals in eight Championship appearances under Gary Rowett, after only netting once in his first 38 games in the competition beforehand.

Image source, PA Media

Bristol City boss Liam Manning says he has "good memories" of his time at Oxford United but is fully focused on "doing everything to win" on his return to the Kassam Stadium on Saturday.

Manning left the U's, who were in League One at the time, in November 2023 after six months in charge in order to become the Robins' head coach.

"Obviously I spent a period of time there and I had some good memories," Manning told BBC Radio Bristol when asked about facing Oxford.

"I'm all-in here and look forward to taking this group of players there to try and win.

"I'll see some familiar faces, some of the people I worked with there and some of the players, but football moves on quite quickly.

"Gary [Rowett] has gone in there and done a really good job and in the eight games he's had, you've only got to look at their form and how they're performing to show they're in a good spot.

"That's a good challenge for us to go there and hit the level we're capable of."

Bristol City are eighth in the Championship and three points off the play-off spots going into the weekend.

But Manning says his side are taking it game by game and "turn up excited" for matches regardless of their league position.

"We get bogged down so much by outcomes and results," he added.

"People forget to live in the moment a little bit, and get so concentrated on too far ahead.

"Enjoy it - that's been my message with the lads. It's all about trying to create special memories, so that's why I live in the present, enjoy the moment and let everybody give their all Saturday."

Image source, Getty Images

Oxford United boss Gary Rowett has said that there is transfer business that his side "may yet do" before Monday's deadline.

The U's have reduced their squad size that was previously over the 25-player limit down to 25.

Oxford may still look to bring in players as well as offload some more in the days remaining of this winter window.

"I think there's probably something else that we may still yet do," Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford

"There might be one or two more players that will attract interest from other teams and we'll make decisions around that.

"We left four or five players at the training ground last time that weren't in the squad so numbers certainly are not our issue, it's just to see if we can strengthen in different ways."

So far this window, Oxford have signed four players including striker Tom Bradshaw from Millwall, Ole Romeny from Eredivisie side FC Utrecht, defender Michal Helik from Huddersfield and Chelsea U20's player Alex Matos.

Rowett's side are next in Championship action on Saturday in the lunchtime kick-off when they host Bristol City at the Kassam Stadium.

Oxford United won't cash in on 21-year-old Tyler Goodrham during the transfer window despite interest from the likes of Leeds and Sunderland. (Oxford Mail, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column.

Stoke City welcome a buoyant Oxford United as they look to move away from the Championship relegation battle on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

The Potters have not won a league game under new boss Mark Robins since his appointment at the start of the year (D2 L1).

While the U's are unbeaten in the Championship under boss Gary Rowett (W5 D2), lifting them nine points above the bottom three.

• Stoke have won one of their past seven league games against Oxford (W1 D3 L3), a 4-0 home win in September 2000 in the third tier.

• After winning the reverse fixture 1-0 in September, Oxford will be looking to produce a first league double over Stoke since the 1989-90 season.

• Stoke have lost two of their past 11 home league games (W3 D6 L2) and will be looking to keep three clean sheets in successive outings at the Bet365 Stadium in the same season for the first time since February 2023.

• Oxford have won one of their 13 away league games this season (W1 D4 L8), with only Plymouth (0) winning fewer on the road in the Championship this term.

• Ruben Rodrigues has scored four of Oxford's last seven away goals in the Championship. His four goals on the road are twice as many as any other Oxford player.

Image source, Rex Features

Ruben Rodrigues was left out of the Oxford starting line-up for their 3-2 win over Luton because of an injury doubt, says boss Gary Rowett.

The forward, 28, has featured in all 28 of the U's Championship games this season, starting 22 of them, but came on as a second-half substitute on Tuesday night.

"Ruben has had a tight hamstring around 60 minutes in the last two games and I certainly didn't want to lose him," Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford.

Matt Phillips started the game in place of Rodrigues before being replaced by Alex Matos on 65 minutes.

"Matty has trained really well and when he's come into the team in different positions he's an intelligent footballer.

"Each game will be a different challenge and we will have to change things from the bench to get the relevant result."

Oxford will be looking to make it eight league games unbeaten since Rowett was appointed when they visit Stoke City on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

Chelsea academy graduate Harvey Vale has attracted the eye of Sunderland, Queens Park Rangers, West Bromwich Albion and Oxford United as well as overseas interest. (Sky Sports, external)

Wrexham have beaten Oxford for Hull City winger Ryan Longman with a bid worth £500,000. (Telegraph Sport, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip here.

Image source, Getty Images

Oxford United boss Gary Rowett spoke to BBC Radio Oxford after their 3-2 win over Luton stretched his unbeaten start in charge to seven league games.

"I felt this would be our toughest test in some ways. I hadn't watched them play," he said.

"They're a little bit different in terms of what they do. They're very direct and they play off second balls.

"It stretches the game, it opens the game and it means that if you turn the ball over, you end up running back 30 or 40 yards and having to defend.

"A little bit too much space for my liking, we didn't use the pockets as well as we have done in the first few games but I think that was partly down to Luton blocking them and creating those limited opportunities for us to get there."

Oxford United welcome strugglers Luton Town on Tuesday evening, looking to extend their unbeaten run under manager Gary Rowett to seven games.

The U's have won four and drawn two since Rowett took over following their 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, which moved them up to 15th.

Luton are 23rd in the Championship and without a win in five league games (L4 D1), but did earn a goalless draw at home to Preston North End in new boss Matt Bloomfield's first game in charge at the weekend.

• Oxford United have failed to win any of their past 16 EFL games against Luton Town (D6 L10), scoring 15 goals in that time and conceding 31.

• Luton have won each of their past two away league games against Oxford and will be looking to win three in succession against them in the Football League for the first time.

• Oxford are unbeaten in each of their past three midweek league games (W2 D1), while they are unbeaten at home in such games this term (W2 D1).

• Luton have lost each of their past 10 away league games; only twice in the EFL have the Hatters endured longer losing runs on the road, losing 12 successive matches in March 1928 and 11 in February 2020.

• 25% of the goals Luton have conceded in away league matches this season have come in the final 10 minutes of games (7/28).

You can now listen to the latest episode of Oxford United's The Dub podcast.

In this week's episode the team chat about January transfer dealings, new signing Michał Helik, Dane Scarlett being recalled by Tottenham and previews for the upcoming Luton and Stoke matches.

Make sure to subscribe and download all your favourite episodes.

Click here to find all episodes of The Dub podcast.

Dan George, Nizaar Kinsella and Jerome Sale
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur have recalled striker Dane Scarlett from his loan spell with Championship side Oxford United.

Scarlett, 20, joined the U's in August and scored four goals in 20 Championship appearances.

Last week, Oxford announced the signing of Tom Bradshaw from Millwall, a striker whom new boss Gary Rowett had previously worked with at the Lions.

Bradshaw's addition could have been seen by Spurs as another name in front of their player getting minutes.

Rather than add Scarlett to their current ranks, Spurs are said to be keen on finding another loan for the striker before the transfer deadline.

Scarlett's loan at Oxford was the third of his career having previously spent time at Portsmouth in League One and also Ipswich Town last season.

The academy graduate has made 17 senior appearances for Tottenham.

'Scarlett's goals could be crucial to Oxford's survival' - analysis

BBC Radio Oxford's Oxford United commentator Jerome Sale:

Scarlett had a difficult start with Oxford and was just not getting the game time that he or Spurs would've wanted, but he did score goals which might yet prove to be crucial if United are to survive in the Championship.

Scarlett was a good performer when he got game time and his four goals were all very well taken, actually quite impressive.

His overall contribution in games actually got better as his time went on, he started to press more, and the work rate that has been questioned elsewhere certainly could not be questioned since Gary Rowett came in.

It sounds like he is going out on loan somewhere else and that team will benefit.

I would add there is not devastation at the decision by Spurs at Oxford, there is more disappointment as they definitely wanted to keep Scarlett.

It remains to be seen whether the U's will look to directly replaced him, my hunch is that they will not unless something extraordinary presents itself, owing to the fact that they now have Bradshaw in.

That signing was probably the final straw as far as Spurs were concerned for their man getting game time.

Oxford also have Ole Romeny, and are heavily linked with Hull City's Ryan Longman, although they are over the top of their 25-man squad limit as it currently stands.

Leeds United, Sunderland, Coventry City and Swansea City are all tracking Oxford United midfielder Tyler Goodrham. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Sunday's full gossip column.

Image source, Rex Features

Gary Rowett said Cameron Brannagan's unstoppable free-kick, which secured a 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers, was a "bit of magic" worthy of winning any game.

Speaking to BBC Radio Oxford, Rowett said: "If we are going to win a game it was going to need a little bit of magic and after we got the wrong side of an offside which I don't think was offside, Cammy steps up and drills one in the top corner."

A fourth victory in six league games continued Rowett's unbeaten run in charge since taking over on 22 December.

And he maintained it was the best performance from his side since he took over the reins.

"I thought our build up play was good, I thought we started really brightly and we looked like we had a threat," said Rowett. "We had a 10 minute spell where we were perhaps overconfident and got caught in our half a little bit.

"But there were loads of quality moments against a tough side who don't give many chances away.

"For the team and to play against a good side like Blackburn and control large parts of the game and create some good opportunities was encouraging."

Rowett admitted that he was hoping to bring in at least one more signing in the transfer window but suggested there would be a net decrease in his squad over January with some players shipped out on loan.

"We will probably try and add one more but we don't want to work with a squad of 26 players because it is hard to retain that feeling and that happiness," he added.

"We've got some really good lads who will get opportunities to play some football but we are a little bit heavy on numbers."