Sky Bet EFL Championship
Tuesday 4 November 2025
Kassam Stadium, Oxford
Oxford United… 0
Stoke City… 3
(Baker 10’ & 48’, N’Zonzi 32’)
Oxford United fell to a 3-0 defeat at home to Stoke City.
United came into the game on the back of two strong results, and that 96th-minute equaliser from Przemyslaw Placheta on Saturday against Millwall.
Gary Rowett made two changes to the starting XI, with Placheta in, and Greg Leigh for the injured Jack Currie.
A defender known for this threat in the opposition box, Leigh was almost on the scoresheet inside the first minute. An inch-perfect Brian De Keersmaecker cross found the Jamaican internationals head from a few yards out, but he could only steer wide with the goal gaping.
United were made to pay for the miss, with Stoke City taking the lead after 10 minutes. A fast break caught the U’s outnumbered at the back and despite Jamie Cumming having to pull off a quick save, the ball fell to Lewis Baker to tap in.
Oxford almost hit back six minutes later, with Stan Mills steering a first-time shot over the bar after he was picked out by Placheta’s cross.
Stoke made Cumming work again on 25 minutes as he produced a smart stop from Million Manhoef. But the visitors did double their lead on 32 minutes. A corner from the right found Steven N’Zonzi who produced, steering a volley into the top left corner.
It was not the start Gary Rowett wanted or needed and quickly they were on the back foot chasing the game. Just before the break, Placheta had the best moment to pull a goal back, powerfully meeting Mills’ low cross but steering his shot just wide of the bottom right corner.
One minute into the second period and Stan Mills almost pulled United back into the game, with his looping cross almost catching Viktor Johansson out, who just managed to tip the ball over the bar.
It would prove costly again, as two minutes later, Baker got his second of the game. Another quick break from Stoke caught United out, as the ball fell to Baker in the middle of the box. His shot was deflected back into his direction and with Cumming on the floor, he passed the ball into the empty net.
The U’s continued to push going forward, but didn’t have the end product on the night.
A disappointing night, now time to bounce back away to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
Oxford United: Cumming, Long, Brown, Vaulks (Prelec 53’), Helik, Placheta (Dembele 53’), Brannagan, De Keersmaecker, Mills (Romeny 80’), Leigh (Sibley 80’), Lankshear (M. Harris 75’)
Subs: Ingram, L. Harris, Davies, Krastev
Stoke City: Johansson, Thomas, Baker (Jun-Ho 64’), Mubama, Seko (Pearson 64’), N’Zonzi, Wilmot, Bocat, Tchamadeu, Phillips, Manhoef (Cisse 72’)
Subs: Bonham, Cresswell, Bozenik, Rigo, Gibson, Talovierov
Attendance: 10,362 (1,396 away)
50/50: £1,191. No: 79069
