Sky Bet EFL Championship
Saturday 24 January 2026
King Power Stadium, Leicester
Leicester City… 1
(Fatawu 84')
Oxford United… 2
(Long 4’, Harris 72’)
Matt Bloomfield earned the first win of his Oxford United tenure with a huge victory over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
United ran out 2-1 winners with goals from Sam Long and Mark Harris in one of the most impressive Oxford displays since returning to the Championship.
Despite a late Fatawu goal, the team fought and scrapped their way to the three points, limiting Leicester to half-chances, and when the final whistle blew, it sent the more than 3,000 supporters wild in the away end.
There were four changes from the draw against QPR, with Brodie Spencer, Ben Davies, Mark Harris and Jamie McDonnell in from the start.
Oxford United came flying out the traps at the King Power and took the lead after just four minutes. Myles Peart-Harris delivered the long throw which was met perfectly by Ciaron Brown to nod on for Sam Long who was racing into the six yard box to fire home.
An incredible start and what a fitting player to score the first goal of the Matt Bloomfield era.
The positive start continued and it almost got better on nine minutes. Jamie McDonnell done well to win the ball back high and it set up Stan Mills for a long shot which was too high and sailed over.
Leicester’s quality on the ball began to show as they started to dictate possession, but out of possession United were aggressive and in control. Despite the attacking talent in the City side, in the first half Bloomfield’s side were a match, with some incredible pressing led by Mark Harris.
On the break, United continued to be a threat with both Peart-Harris and Mills offering a strong option in behind, with both almost getting behind on a few occasions from successful dribbles.
With two minutes left in the half, United had the ball in the net. A Cameron Brannagan corner was met by Peart-Harris to nod home, but the referee blew for a foul on the keeper, to the bemusement of all in yellow. A let off for the home side in what looked to be a certain goal.
Into the second half and United could have made it 2-0 on two occasions inside the opening six minutes. First of all, Mills had a left footed shot inside the box which took a big deflection and looped over the keeper’s head and just avoided the top corner.
From the second phase of the corner, Jack Currie headed the ball back into the box for Peart-Harris who was in space, his first touch was great, his finish just dragged the wrong side of the post and agonisingly wide.
But in the 72nd minute, United made it 2-0 to send the more than 3,000 United fans bedlam. Oxford sprung the counterattack, with Brian De Keersmaecker playing Mark Harris one-on-one with the goalkeeper with the whole Leicester defence forward. The Wales international striker had the calmness to run through, roll the ball round the keeper and slot in.
With six minutes of the 90 left, Fatawu grabbed a goal back for the hosts with a curling effort into the top corner just inside the box. It made for a nervy ending, but United saw the game out with relative ease to claim a vital three points.
Three games for Matt Bloomfield and undefeated with five points. A positive start with more big games to come, and plenty to build on going forward.
Leicester City: Stolarczyk, Nelson, Okoli, Fatawu, Ayew, Mavididi, De Cordova-Reid, Choudry, Ricardo, Vestegaard, Page
Subs: Daka, Soumare, Marcal Monga, Begovic, L. Thomas, S. Thomas, Aluko, Gray
Oxford United: Cumming, Spencer, Long, Davies, Brown, Currie (Leigh 67’), Brannagan (Vaulks 87'), McDonnell, Peart-Harris (Phillips 76’), Mills (De Keersmaecker 67’), Harris (Lankshear 87')
Subs: Ingram, Konak, Romeny, Jin Woo