Sky Bet EFL Championship
Sunday 21 September 2025
Ashton Gate, Bristol
Bristol City… 1
(Mehmeti 53’)
Oxford United… 3
(Prelec 19’, Placheta 45+3’, Leigh 90’)
Oxford United grabbed their first win of the season with an outstanding performance, to earn a 3-1 win away to Bristol City.
A first Oxford goal for Nik Prelec, followed by a Przemyslaw Placheta rocket, put the U’s 2-0 up at the break. Bristol City did get back into the game, but a third late on secured all three points in what was a controlled, confident and brave display from Gary Rowett’s side.
On the form table, undefeated Bristol City at home to an Oxford United side without a league win would have made the U’s long odds with the bookmakers.
But two strong performances in successive 2-2 draws against promotion chasing Coventry City and Leicester City gave Gary Rowett’s side plenty of optimism.
The Head Coach made two changes from the Leicester clash, bringing in Brodie Spencer for the injured Ben Davies, while Nik Prelec got his first start for the also injured Matt Phillips.
United had shown a goal scoring threat so far this season and they were on the hunt straight from kick off. Przemyslaw Placheta had a golden opportunity after five minutes after being played through by Prelec, but his touch cut off the angle and the goalkeeper saved well.
Bristol City did show some early warning signs of their own, but after 19 minutes, United were deservedly in the lead. Prelec won the freekick wide right, and Brian De Keersmaecker sent in a fizzing cross onto the Slovenian’s head who powered the header home for his first of the season.
His strike-partner Will Lankshear should have had his fourth of the season three minutes later. A long throw was flicked on at the near post for the on-rushing Lankshear who adjusted well to get a shot on goal and force Radek Vitek into a stunning stop.
Both sides continued to create. At one end, Sam Long had to make a superb last-ditch challenge, and at the other, Lankshear again had an opportunity with a volley which sailed over the bar.
The closest City got to scoring in the first half came on the 33rd minute, when an in-swinging corner looked to loop over Jamie Cumming and in, but for the most outstanding overhead kick clearance from Brodie Spencer.
But with the last kick of the half, Placheta produced an absolute stunner to put United two up at the break. A corner from the right fell to the winger on the right hand side outside the box, and from there he done the rest, controlling the ball and then walloping it into the top right corner.
Six minutes into the start of the second half and United should have been 3-0 in front. De Keersmaecker’s corner from the right met Long’s head but he could only direct onto the post, with the goalkeeper well beaten.
The U’s were made to pay as City did get back into it two minutes later. Anis Mehmeti produced a goal almost as good as Placheta’s, cutting inside from the left and firing a rocket onto the underside of the bar and bouncing into the net.
Bristol City were in the ascendency at this stage and United had to do them their best to keep the backdoor shut. Despite the pressure, the only chance the home side created was on the 67th minute when Adam Randall sent a left foot shot just over the bar from inside the box.
Gary Rowett made a triple change with 20 minutes to play and the substitutions almost worked immediately. Siriki Dembele weaved his wave into the box and had a shot blocked, with Stan Mills following up on the volley and getting his effort on target. After the keeper saved and parried the ball back out it ended up in a stramash, but the U’s couldn’t bundle the ball in.
Right on the 90th minute, United got the clinching goal. De Keersmaecker’s wicked cross in from a left-side freekick, and Greg Leigh seemed to get a slight touch on the ball with his head, as it nestled into the bottom right corner.
A fantastic result and performance, earning a first win of the season. Overall a great afternoon for the Yellows, with Sheffield United up next at home.
Bristol City: Vitek, McCrorie (Borges 70’), Randell, Atkinson (Tanner 15’), Twine, Mehmeti, Knight, Vyner, Dickie, Sykes (Kirakawa 70’), Riis
Subs Not Used: Lumley, Mayulu, Roberts, Cornick, Pecover, Armstrong
Oxford United: Cumming, Spencer, Helik, Long, Currie (Leigh 83’), Brannagan (L. Harris 80’), De Keersmaecker, Placheta (Dembele 71’), Krastev (Mills 71’), Prelec (Vaulks 71’), Lankshear
Subs Not Used: Ingram, M. Harris, Sibley, Goodrham
