Oxford United

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Tom Bradshaw was a "great servant" for Millwall and moves to Oxford United with the club's best wishes, says head coach Alex Neil.

The 32-year-old completed his move to the U's on Thursday after six-and-a-half years at The Den, having initially joined on loan in August 2018.

He scored 45 goals in 211 appearances for the club and has now reunited with former Lions boss Gary Rowett at the Kassam Stadium.

"Tom's been a great servant over the years for Millwall. He's scored goals, he's worked tirelessly at the top end of the pitch, and he goes with our best wishes, really," Neil told BBC Radio London.

"He wanted to further his career and continue to play. I think he's got the opportunity now to do so at the same level as we're currently at at the moment, so it was a great chance for him.

"Tom's in the last year of his deal here; he's now been given an extra whatever he's been given at Oxford, and he'll be pleased with that."

Oxford next hosts Blackburn Rovers in the league on Saturday, with Millwall facing Blackburn Rovers at The Den.

Oxford United welcome Blackburn to the Kassam Stadium on Saturday (15:00 GMT) seeking to continue their fine form under Gary Rowett.

The Us are unbeaten in five, claiming 11 points, ahead of the visit of Rovers, who ended a five match winless run, during which they claimed just two points, with Wednesday's 3-0 win over Portsmouth, which took them up to fifth.

• Oxford United have lost each of their past three league games against Blackburn Rovers, conceding 2+ goals in each of those defeats.

• Blackburn Rovers have lost just one of their past 12 league games against Oxford (W5 D6), a 3-1 defeat in December 1990.

• Oxford have won their past two home league games and could win three in a row for the first time since their opening three games at the Kassam Stadium this season.

• Blackburn Rovers have kept a clean sheet (3) or conceded exactly once (4) in their past seven away games (W4 D1 L2), their longest streak without conceding multiple goals on the road since April 2018 (8 in a row).

• Oxford United manager Gary Rowett has won just two of 12 career league games against Blackburn Rovers (D4 L6), 1-0 at home with both Birmingham in October 2016 and Millwall in July 2020.

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Oxford United midfielder Will Vaulks scored his first goal in almost two years to put the U's ahead in their Championship match against bottom dwellers Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday.

Forward Mark Harris, who was formerly part of the same Cardiff City squad as his 31-year-old team-mate, passed to Vaulks to allow the midfielder to unleash a powerful strike from distance.

Plymouth's Rami Al Hajj then scored the equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Home Park but that failed to take the shine off the moment for the Oxford goalscorer.

"It's been a long time coming," Vaulks told BBC Radio Oxford.

"Sparky [Harris' nickname] remembers me scoring goals at Cardiff so I had a feeling he was going to set me, whereas some of the other boys probably wouldn't have because they haven't seen me score.

"It's nice to know I can still do it."

The point saw Oxford's unbeaten run extend to five games, with two home fixtures at the Kassam Stadium next.

The first sees the U's welcome seventh-placed Blackburn Rovers on Saturday before hosting relegation-threatened Luton Town on Tuesday.

"It'll be nice to be back at home, somewhere we've been really strong this season," Vaulks added.

"It needs to continue. We've got to have good home form to stay in this league."

Miron Muslic will take charge of his first game as Plymouth Argyle boss when the Championship's bottom side welcome Oxford United to Home Park on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).

The Pilgrims are winless in their past 11 league games (D5 L6), although did stun Premier League side Brentford with a 1-0 win in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.

By contrast, the 17th-placed U's are unbeaten in four league games since Gary Rowett took charge (W3 D1) but were dumped out of the FA Cup by League One Exeter at the weekend.

• Plymouth Argyle have won four of their past five league games against Oxford United (L1), though that sole defeat did come in the reverse fixture earlier this season (2-0).

• Oxford United have lost each of their past two away league games against Plymouth 1-0 and could lose three such matches in succession for the first time since August 1989.

• Plymouth have drawn four of their past six home league games (W1 L1), while only Carrow Road (49) and Hillsborough (42) have seen more Championship goals this season than Home Park (39).

• Oxford are unbeaten in each of their past four league games (W3 D1), with no other Championship side picking up more points than them in the competition since Boxing Day.

• All four of Ruben Rodrigues' Championship goals for Oxford this season have come away from home, netting in each of their past two such games at Millwall and Preston.

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Oxford United boss Gary Rowett says he expects the club to appeal against the red card Tyler Goodrham was shown in the FA Cup defeat at Exeter on Saturday.

Goodrham was sent off for elbowing Jake Richards in the face as the Grecians midfielder pulled him back in the 81st minute.

"Tyler at this moment in time is going to be unavailable, I'd imagine for three games, so that's a bit of a blow," Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford.

"I will speak to the club this morning but I think we will appeal it. I think when you watch it back, he [Goodrham] has tried to free himself.

"It's a straight arm, the arm has caught the player just under the chin. I don't think it was malicious but I think proving that he hasn't done it with that intent is obviously very difficult.

"There's two very different things, we know the type of player he is, but whether a referee is going to change his mind or whether a panel is going to change that for him. But I think we will probably look to appeal that."

If Goodrham's red card is not overturned, he will serve a three-match suspension and miss Oxford's trip to Plymouth on Tuesday night, as well as home games against Blackburn and Luton.

Oxford United make the trip to Devon to face Exeter City in the FA Cup third round on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

• This is just the second FA Cup meeting between Exeter and Oxford United, with the U's previously winning a second round tie 4-1 in November 2022.

• Exeter have won just one of their past 14 meetings with Oxford United in all competitions (D5 L8), winning 1-0 away in League One in January 2023.

• Exeter are looking to reach the FA Cup fourth round for the first time since 1980-81, going out at this stage of the competition 10 times since then.

• Oxford United have been eliminated from the FA Cup at the third round stage in both of the last two seasons, losing these games by an aggregate score of 9-2.

• No player has scored more FA Cup goals this season than Exeter's Josh Magennis (four, first round onwards). The last player to score more for the Grecians in a single campaign in the competition proper was Jayden Stockley in 2017-18 (five).

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Oxford United captain Elliott Moore will be out for at least the next "three or four games", says head coach Gary Rowett.

The U's defender had to go off during the New Year's Day win at Millwall and missed last weekend's draw at Preston North End because of a muscle injury.

"There's a little issue in there and we think it'll be another few weeks before we know where it's at," Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford.

"It might be we don't know (the full extent) until after the window shuts so we'll have to have a think about that but he'll definitely be unavailable for the next three or four games."

Oxford have recalled defender Stephan Negru from his loan at League Two Salford City but Rowett is yet to decide whether to use him as cover for Moore's absence.

"It allows us to have a closer look at him but there has been some interest from higher up with League One clubs but certainly with Elliott out injured it's nice to have him back," he added,

"The challenge of the weekend is if he plays for us he can only then go back to Salford so we'll work out what's best for him in the next week or two."

Oxford visit Exeter City in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.

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Oxford United have recalled defender Stephan Negru from his season-long loan with League Two promotion challengers Salford City.

Negru has made 17 league starts for Salford this season since joining them in July.

The 22-year-old signed for Oxford from League of Ireland side Shelbourne in January 2023 and made 15 appearances in their League One promotion-winning campaign last season.

He returns to Oxford in time for this weekend's FA Cup third-round tie at Exeter, with the U's having an injury doubt surrounding defender Elliott Moore.

Moore suffered a groin injury in the win at Millwall on 1 January and missed Saturday's draw at Preston North End.

Meanwhile, Oxford have confirmed goalkeeper Ed McGinty has signed for League of Ireland club Shamrock Rovers on a permanent deal.

The 25-year-old, who made 10 first-team appearances for the U's, had been on loan with Sligo Rovers, from whom he joined Oxford in 2022.

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Oxford United boss Gary Rowett said his side's 1-1 draw at Preston was the best result since he took charge last month.

Rowett, 50, was appointed as United manager following the sacking of Des Buckingham and has overseen a fine upturn in form, winning his first three Championship matches before Saturday's draw.

"In my opinion, it is the best result of the four and the one I'm probably most proud of because we dug in and showed character," the former Birmingham City manager told BBC Radio Oxford.

"To come in 1-0 up was rather fortunate shall we say. If we'd have been 2-0 down, I certainly couldn't have complained massively."

After victories over Cardiff, Plymouth Argyle and Millwall, Rowett said the point picked up at Deepdale - in a game in which he lost Mark Harris and Peter Kioso to injury - was precious.

"It is not an easy place to come - I thought we were very, very dogged to get the point," he added.

Oxford United have now taken 10 points from a possible 12 under Gary Rowett following their 1-1 draw at Preston on Saturday.

Former U's defender Ben Purkiss has been discussing Rowett's impressive start to life at the Kassam Stadium on The Dub podcast alongside host Robyn Cowen, EFL expert George Elek and BBC Oxford's sports editor Jerome Sale.

Purkiss said he had noticed "a few tweaks in the shape" since Rowett took over.

"I felt like the second half against Preston, it looked to me that he adapted and went to pretty much a three at the back," Purkiss said.

"He almost matched up Preston and the way in which they played. So, he's shown the ability to adapt."

Oxford have beaten fellow strugglers Cardiff and Plymouth in their four-game undefeated run, as well as a Millwall side with only one win in 11.

Purkiss believes the relatively kinder fixtures could have influenced the club's decision to sack former boss Des Buckingham three weeks ago.

"That may have been factored into the decision as to the timing of moving Des on and getting Gary in because they were four fixtures you look at and target as realistic opportunities," Purkiss added.

"To be fair, he [Rowett] has taken them. I think you've seen a bit more calmness and composure around the team."

Listen to The Dub podcast on BBC Sounds as the panel also discuss the January transfer window and new signing Ole Romeny.