EFL Sky Bet Championship
Friday 3 April 2026
Kassam Stadium, Oxford
Oxford United… 1
(Brannagan 13’ pen)
Hull City… 1
(Belloumi 4’)
Oxford United were held to a 1-1 draw against Hull City in a brilliant attacking performance which should have saw all three points.
It was the worst start possible for United, falling a goal behind through Mo Belloumi. One long ball from the back beat Ruben Roosken on the left, and Belloumi cut in to beat Jamie Cumming with his shot deflecting off Ciaron Brown.
United fought back straight away and earned a penalty on the 12th minute. Will Lankshear got on to a through ball into the box and was completely wiped out, with the referee only showing a yellow for what was a last man challenge and nowhere near the ball. Brannagan stepped up and hammered the ball into the right of the net.
The Yellows were on the front foot thereafter and could have made it 2-1 on 21 minutes. Stan Mills sent a delightful cross into the box for Will Lankshear who dived for the ball and sent the header over.
Jamie Cumming did have to make a strong save on 40 minutes from Hull City, after a strong attack down the left wing which led to a shot on goal from close range.
Myles Peart-Harris had the best chance of the half on 42 minutes, having been played through by Ciaron Brown and his shot from a tight angle was well saved by Dillion Phillips.
Matt Bloomfield made a change at the break with Brodie Spencer on at left-back for Roosken. United almost scored within two minutes as a long freekick from Brannagan eventually found Michal Helik six yards out and he steered a header over.
Brannagan then took aim himself a few minutes later with a trademark strike at least 30 yards out. It looked all the way to be heading into the top right corner, but Phillips managed to get a hand on it and turn away.
On 72 minutes, it was pinball in the Hull City box, as United had three attempts blocked in quick succession, with Hull throwing bodies on the line to keep it out.
There were huge shouts for a penalty on 81 minutes when one of the triple subs Mark Harris managed to get in behind the Hull defence, but the keeper looked to just get a touch on the ball as Harris went down.
The big chances fell to United in stoppage time. First of all, a flowing move saw Mills play the ball across the box for an unmarked Harris, stretching, he only managed to steer wide from a few yards out as he reached as far as he could.
Then, two minutes later, Will Vaulks smashed a shot from the edge of the box which the keeper just managed to push wide.
A draw in the end, now onto Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Monday.
Oxford United: Cumming, Long, Brown, Konak (Vaulks 75’), Helik, Brannagan, Roosken (Spencer 46’), Mills, Lankshear (Prelec 90+2’), Donley (Harris 75’), Peart-Harris (Jin Woo 75’)
Subs: Ingram, Placheta, Makosso, McDonnell
Hull City: Philips, Coyle, Hughes, Lundstram, Ajayi, McBurnie, Belloumi, Drameh, Gelhardt, Joseph, Crooks
Subs: Pandur, Millar, Egan, Hadziahmetov, Dowell, Collyer, Koumas, McNair, McCarthy
Attendance: 11,477 (1,467 away)
50/50: £1,437.50 / 117511