Sky Bet EFL Championship
Wednesday 1 October 2025
Loftus Road, London
QPR… 0
Oxford United… 0
Oxford United kept their first clean sheet of the season in a hard fought and well earned point away to Queens Park Rangers.
It was another unchanged side for Gary Rowett for the third game in succession, in the hope the team could put in the same performance as the 3-1 away victory over Bristol City.
United came out in confident form, looking to put Saturday’s league defeat to Sheffield United to one side. Within the opening 15 minutes, the U’s created a number of good opportunities, but couldn’t make them count, most notably Przemyslaw Placheta almost finding an unmarked Will Lankshear at the back post for a tap-in.
QPR began to feel their way back into the game and had their first effort on goal on the 36th minute, forward Michael Frey with a dig from long range which Jamie Cumming held well.
The hosts were growing into the game more as the half went on and had another opportunity just before half time, this time Steve Cook blasting over the bar from the corner of the box.
It was the end of the action for the half, and into the second and United came out strong. Gary Rowett was forced into an early change with Filip Krastev replaced by Siriki Dembele through injury.
Immediately after coming on, Dembele set up a big chance on the 55th minute, teeing up Nik Prelec in the box, who laid it off to Lankshear and the forward’s shot was blocked from a good position in the box.
On the turn of the hour mark, QPR made a triple change and with it, they pounced forward looking for the opening goal. United had to withstand a period of QPR pressure, but once they did see that through, they began to find that composure again.
United continued to look strong going into the final stages and with the last touch of the game, Michal Helik almost won the game. An outstanding freekick into the box from Brian De Keersmaecker found the Polish defender unmarked, but he failed to connect with his head and the ball came off his shoulder and just wide.
Overall, a slightly subdued evening, but another point on the road in the Championship with Watford away next.
QPR: Nardi, Dunne, Cook, Dembele (Saito 60’), Field (Madsen 60’), Frey (Burrell 60’), Harden, Norrington-Davies, Vale (Smyth 75’), Kone, Mbengue
Subs Not Used: Hames, Morrison, Morgan, Esquerdinha, Varane
Oxford United: Cumming, Spencer, Long, Helik, Currie (Leigh 90+3’), Brannagan, De Keersmaecker, Krastev (Dembele 55’), Placheta (Mills 69’), Prelec (M. Harris 90+3’), Lankshear (L. Harris 69’)
Subs Not Used: Ingram, Vaulks, Goodrham, Davies