Oxford United

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Oxford United have used a free week to prepare well for Saturday's Championship match at Southampton (15:00 GMT), according to head coach Matt Bloomfield.

The U's 1-1 draw with Charlton last weekend ended a sequence of three games in six days and extended their unbeaten run to four matches.

"The lads have trained and trained really well. We're obviously working really hard towards the end goal," Bloomfield told BBC Radio Oxford.

"This week we've had some time on the training ground which we've enjoyed and spent some time with the lads which has been really good."

Oxford are third from bottom in the Championship table but only one point short of safety after winning three of their four past matches.

"We've had the time to focus on it in amongst playing Wednesday and Saturday last week," added Bloomfield.

"You have to be careful how much change you put in because of the time you have to prepare for weeks like that.

"We've had time to prepare for this [game] and we hope top put our best selves out there on Saturday."

Southampton and Oxford United will be fighting for points at either end of the Championship table when they meet at St Mary's on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

A win will guarantee the Saints a longer stay in the top six, with Wrexham keen to take back the spot against Sheffield United.

However Oxford are seeking an escape from their predicament. They are one point adrift in the bottom three and they will want to avoid watching the gap extend.

• This will be the first time Southampton have hosted Oxford in a league match since November 1987, in a 3-0 home victory for Chris Nicholl's side in the top-flight.

• After winning 2-1 in this season's reverse fixture (Boxing Day 2025), Oxford could achieve the league double over Southampton for the first time ever.

• Southampton are unbeaten in their last five league games on a Saturday, winning four of them (D1); as many victories as they had in their previous 25 (W4 D7 L14).

• Oxford are unbeaten in their three away league games on a Saturday under Matt Bloomfield (W1 D2), after losing five of their first six (W1) in the Championship this season.

• Finn Azaz has been directly involved in four goals in three Championship games against Oxford, with all four of those coming in a single game (2 goals, 2 assists in a 6-2 win for Middlesbrough in November 2024).

Image source, Getty Images

There have been plenty of contentious decisions in the 2025-26 Championship season so far.

Offside goals given, perfectly good goals ruled out, red card offences missed, penalties not given, dubious spot-kicks awarded. You name it.

With the video assistant referee (VAR) only used for the play-off final, the outcome of every second-tier game in the regular season can hinge on how on-field officials see incidents in real time.

• Would you want VAR introduced for every league game in the Championship?

• If so, why?

• And if not, let us know your reasons.

You can share your thoughts on VAR here or comment below, and we will publish a follow-up article soon with a selection of your responses.

Oxford United conceded a stoppage-time penalty to draw 1-1 with Charlton at home on Saturday.

It saw their three-game winning run end, and the U's are now back inside the relegation places.

Former Oxford defender Ben Purkiss admits Ciaron Brown's decision to pull back Charlton's Lloyd Jones and give away the spot-kick was "odd".

"(Brown) has been exceptional for the entire time they've been in the Championship and prior to that as well, and he's such an experienced player

"It was just odd. For me, their penalty was more of a penalty than ours, and I'm just not sure what he was doing.

"It was silly to say the least, and the impact was two crucial points. This is that time of the season when you're going to come away and say 'how did that happen?'

"How did Blackburn beat Millwall away? Millwall had a man sent off. How did West Brom beat Hull? Hull got a man sent off".

Purkiss adds: "Its crucial at any stage of the season, but absolutely critical right now, but it happens.

"If you look at it in the round, 10 points from 12 is a pretty exceptional return, and it's all to play for".

You can listen to more from Purkiss and the rest of the team in the latest The Dub podcast above or on the club's BBC Sounds page.

Oxford United boss Matt Bloomfield spoke to BBC Radio Oxford following their 1-1 draw against Charlton.

"Really disappointing to not be walking away with three points," he said.

"We've waited so long to get a penalty and then we give one away on the same day so we're really disappointed with that.

"But I think we need to stay on an even keel, 10 points from the last four games is obviously a really good return from where we were, so we have to take the positives from that and move on quickly.

"They're (the players) are giving us everything they've got and they've been going consistently for the last few weeks.

"It's an opportunity to refresh in midweek and we go again next Saturday."

Oxford United will be aiming to continue their winning streak and move out of the bottom three when they host Charlton Athletic on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

The U's have won their past three league games, and are only inside the relegation zone on goal difference.

But the Addicks have back-to-back wins from their past two matches and will be full of confidence after beating second-placed Middlesbrough last time out.

• Oxford are unbeaten in seven home league meeting with Charlton (W4 D3) since a 2-1 defeat in January 1998.

• Charlton are looking to complete their first league double over Oxford since the 1997-98 campaign.

• Oxford have won just one of their last 12 league games that have kicked off at 12:30pm (D7 L4), a 1-0 home win over Derby in October earlier this season.

• Charlton boss Nathan Jones has won all three of his EFL matches against Oxford, beating them twice with Luton and again with the Addicks earlier this season.

• Charlton have won their last four league games against sides with United in their name - and all by a 1-0 scoreline.

Image source, Rex Features

Oxford United manager Matt Bloomfield has been speaking to the media before their home game with Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday (19:45 GMT).

Here are the main talking points:

• The 42-year-old says there is a real feel-good factor after back-to-back wins, against West Bromwich Albion and Preston North: "In the dressing room, the stands and the town, there's a confidence and a belief coming back to our football club, but again there's still so much more work to do. We have to keep our feet on the floor."

• So, do those previous two results take the pressure off the visit of Blackburn? "No game is must-win until maybe the final game. It's an important three points we're chasing. We have to try and play the game in front of us, not the situation we find ourselves in. That will take care of itself if we perform properly and pick up the points."

• Bloomfield finds himself up against Rovers boss Michael O'Neil, who knows a number of U's players through his dual role as Northern Ireland boss. "It's a fairly unique situation. Michael will have a big know-how about a lot of our players, and I'm sure he'll be using it to the best of his advantage".

• On Blackburn: "We're going to have a tough game. He's an extremely experienced manager whose teams are hard to break down, really organised, and have good players in attacking areas, too."

• Even though this is the second of three matches in nine days, Bloomfield isn't tempted to rotate too much: "For me it's just about worrying about Wednesday night, picking the best team that's right for that game, and from there we deal with Saturday."

• Bloomfield on the role of the fans over two successive home matches: "It's been crucial that we've been able to show the fans they have something to cheer about and follow. We need them all this week. They are the lifeblood of the club, we need their voices and their numbers, and I know they'll give us their backing."

Listen to more from Matt Bloomfield and all things Oxford United on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Opta

A win for Oxford United on Wednesday (19:45 GMT) would make it three consecutive league victories for the first time since January 2025.

Blackburn Rovers will arrive at The Kassam Stadium having won more points away from Lancashire (21) than at Ewood Park (18).

• Oxford have won just one of their past eight league games against Blackburn (D3 L4), though it was in this exact fixture last season (1-0).

• Blackburn have won three of their five league meetings with Oxford this century, but are winless in the last two (D1 L1).

• Following their 2-1 victory against West Brom, Oxford are looking to win consecutive home league games for the first time since March/April 2025.

• Blackburn have won just one of their past nine away league games (D3 L5), beating QPR 3-1 last month.

• Coming into this round of matches, only bottom side Sheffield Wednesday (11) have failed to score in more different Championship home games than Oxford (8) this season.

Adam Cottier
BBC Radio Five Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

A night to remember in Lancashire for Oxford. Spearheaded by Will Lankshear, Matt Bloomfield's side might just have unearthed some form in the nick of time.

"We played with energy, freshness and enthusiasm," he beamed afterwards.

Oxford had risen to the challenge at Deepdale with a smart tactical approach clearly designed to unsettle a hopelessly out of form Preston team.

The U's struck early, but their fans may have feared the worst when Ciaron Brown headed over a simple chance to make it 2-0 and Preston promptly equalised.

But Oxford were to summon courage, spirit and some sprinkles of ruthlessness to engineer a win in the second half and change the complexion at the bottom of the Championship.

The addition of Jamie Donley in January looks shrewd - as does some added depth in reserve; Oxford's set-piece execution was also on the button on a poor Preston pitch.

These are shoots of recovery under Bloomfield as Oxford try to ensure themselves of a third successive season in the second tier.

"I believe we can do that. We'll be fighting," he said.

For the first time in nearly 14 months Oxford have back-to-back league wins and - crucially - some impetus to take into the final 10 games, starting against another team haunted by relegation, Blackburn Rovers, on Wednesday.

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Earlier we asked what you make of the news that, from next season, the Championship play-offs will be expanded to include the teams finishing seventh and eighth?

It was announced on Thursday morning that EFL clubs voted in favour of expanding the play-offs from four to six teams.

Here's a selection of your comments...

Josh, Derby: I don't believe this is necessary. I do think that the play-off format should be aligned throughout the top five leagues, but expanding isn't needed. Better distribution of the monies involved and establishing a clear matchday structure to balance various men's and women's leagues would be a better use of everyone's time. This strikes me undue American influence.

Callum, Dartford: I think it's a good thing so teams can push for promotion that thought they wouldn't get near the play-offs.

Cato, Sheffield: If we adopted it to this season, it means that eighth-placed Derby (on 51 points) have about as much a chance of going up as third-placed Millwall (on 63 points). Plus, to accommodate the extra games, would they extend the season into June? I don't like the idea of it at all, and I hope it's short-lived.

Steve, London: Another example of football being ruined, week by week. Don't you dare think about implementing VAR too.

Mark, Stafford: As a Stoke fan, I think it's good news. The season has come to a grinding halt due to being decimated by injuries. Add to that, the quality of what is coming down from the Premier League, it would mean upsets can happen and still allow teams in that mid-table race to dream of greater heights!

Richard, Stansted: Absolutely ridiculous. What is the point of a league format if you are going to make it a bigger lottery to include even more teams at the end of the season? It also brings teams that are even less ready to actually be in the Premier League into scope. But mostly it's the undermining of the league format which makes no sense. I'm a Derby fan - and we look like we would have a chance of benefiting from this if it were in place this season.

Andy, Nuneaton: Anything that expands the opportunities for those outside of the parachute teams is a good thing. We need to get away from this elite view of the Premier League. If it was up to them, they'd stop automatic promotion and relegation and have a system like Rugby Union, where it's based on meeting certain criteria. The eighth-placed club in the Championship getting to the PL? Bring it on!

Ron, Hayling: Money, Money, Money. Players complain about the amount of games they play with the league games and cup competitions so the intention is to play even more at the end of the season. Owners will make some money but that's all that matters!

Barry, Dartford: Yes it's a fantastic for everyone, all the small teams as well as the big boys, to have something to play for. It will give the end of the season something to look forward to.

Benjamin, Poole: I'm a Charlton fan, so it's unlikely we'll come 8th in the Championship any time soon, however, this is ridiculous. More pandering to Americans to make it more likely they'll make money, which is the only thing they care about. Sporting integrity out of the window again. Shame as I felt the Championship was the last bastion of quality and integrity combined. Game has gone.

Broughton, Derby: Absolute ridiculous, put it back to the old days of three straight up, no play-offs. If you don't make top-three you don't deserve to go up.

Julian, London: The worst decision from a footballing point of view ever! The National League teams have been trying to change their system to be like the current EFL system so it seems a very strange decision for the EFL to take. You can finish 8th after 46 games and still get promoted - sporting integrity has been totally lost with this decision. Money over integrity every time!