Sky Bet EFL Championship
Saturday 22 November 2025
Kassam Stadium, Oxford
Oxford United… 1
(L. Harris 28’)
Middlesbrough… 1
(Whittaker 54’)
Oxford United were held to a 1-1 draw at home against promotion contenders Middlesbrough.
A first United goal for Luke Harris put the U’s 1-0 up in the first half, however a second half goal from Morgan Whittaker saw the points shared.
With the last international break of the year over, it was back to the busy schedule for United, this the first of three games in six days.
After defeat in the last outing, Gary Rowett made three changes, with Tyler Goodrham back in, and Luke Harris making his first league start.
It was a soaking wet day in Oxford as second in the table Middlesbrough came to the Kassam, all which made for a rather uneventful opening 20 minutes.
The first chance came on the 22nd minute with Cameron Brannagan dragging a freekick low and wide. A few moments later Aidan Morris had the visitors first effort, narrowly missing the target from the edge of the box with a rifling shot.
The game sparked into life on the 28th minute, when Luke Harris got his first goal in Oxford colours. It was a lovely goal, Jack Currie bombing down the left wing and cutting the ball back to the on-loan Fulham man, who tidily steer a left foot shot into the bottom left corner.
A blow for Oxford United came on the 40th minute when Brannagan hobbled off injured. A few moments later and Middlesbrough almost equalised, but for the diving Michal Helik who came up with a stunning block inside the area.
United took the 1-0 lead into the break, but the visitors had an early shot on target in the second period having found their way into the box, forcing Jamie Cumming into a strong save.
Will Vaulks replaced Brannagan in the first half, and he almost had his second goal for the Club on the 52nd minute, slicing a left foot shot from the edge of the box just slightly over the bar.
Two minutes later and Middlesbrough equalised in fortuitous circumstances. An overload on the right saw Callum Brittain’s low shot deflect of Morgan Whittaker and beyond Cumming.
It became a game of few chances, with the momentum swinging in both directions, United have spells of possession and pressure, followed by the same for Boro.
The next best chance came for Whittaker on the 82nd minute, when his arrowing strike had Cumming motionless, as the ball just slide by the top left corner.
Mark Harris had a half-chance with the clock ticking towards 90 minutes, but there were no more chances for either side before full time.
Norwich City away on Tuesday night, with the next home game Ipswich Town on Friday night.
Oxford United: Cumming, Long, Helik, Brown, Currie, Brannagan (Vaulks 40’), De Keersmaecker, L. Harris (M. Harris 63’), Goodrham (Krastev 63’), Placheta (Mills 63’), Lankshear (Romeny 76’)
Subs: Ingram, Prelec, Leigh, Davies
Middlesbrough: Brynn, Brittain, Targett, Jones, Hackney, Conway, Burgzorg (Sene 63’), Whittaker, Ayling, Browne, Morris (McGree 63’)
Subs: McLaughlin, Gilbert, Hamilton, Silvera, Bangura, Cartwright, McCormick
Attendance: 11,138 (1,476 away)
50/50: £1,234. No: 083761
