Sky Bet EFL Championship
Friday 26 December 2025
Kassam Stadium, Oxford
Oxford United… 2
(Goodrham 22’, Mills 89')
Southampton… 1
(Harwood-Bellis 29’)
Oxford United scored a late winner over Southampton to earn a big three points as Craig Short took interim charge.
Tyler Goodrham's first half goal was cancelled out by Southampton, which set up a big finish as Mills scored in the 89th minute to cap off an impressive display from United with a big home support.
Craig Short led proceedings alongside Lewis Price and Chris Hackett following the departure of Gary Rowett on Tuesday morning.
The coaching group made five changes from the Charlton defeat, with an attacking lineup with Tyler Goodrham and Luke Harris in a midfield three.
The first 20 minutes went by without note, the only moments coming when Luke Harris’s shot from distance went straight at the keeper, and the visitors had a penalty appeal turned down.
Finn Azaz had a good chance for Southampton right on the 20-minute mark. The Saints managed to carve United open for the first time, but a good block from Michal Helik saw the ball fall to Azaz inside the box who blazed over.
Two minutes later, and United took the lead to send the Kassam wild. A period of pressure from a corner saw Southampton head the ball clear of the box, but it fell to Goodrham on the edge who hit it flush on the half volley into the side netting for this first league goal of the season.
It was another for the Goodrham collection, and an important goal for United in this big Boxing Day clash.
However, on 29 minutes, Taylor Harwood-Bellis got the visitor’s level. It was an easy goal for Southampton, a freekick deep from the right found the defender unmarked in the middle and he headed beyond Jamie Cumming.
United remained strong in the game despite the equaliser and created good moments, the best coming to Stan Mills on 35 minutes when Nik Prelec played the winger behind the Southampton defence and his shot was poked straight at Gavin Bazunu.
Brian De Keersmaecker was close to getting his second of the season on 41 minutes with a shot from 25 yards which whistled wide of the top right corner.
Przemyslaw Placheta had the last chance of the half for Oxford with a few minutes left, Jack Currie picking him out with good wing play, and Placheta steering a first-time shot a few yards wide from 12 yards out.
Straight up the other end and Leo Scienza smacked the post with a outside of the boot shot from just inside the area to see the game go into the half all square.
Straight into the second half and Placheta almost put United back into the lead. A volley from the edge of the box tested Bazunu, who had to stretch as far as possible to tip it wide for a corner, which tested the Southampton defence.
The Polish winger then went close again minutes later with a rocket of a shot from 25 yards which whizzed inches past the post with Bazunu flat footed.
United’s big chance came on the 64th minute, all through the good work of Stan Mills. The winger set it up himself, running down the left wing, beating two men, and he just had to find Nik Prelec in the middle of the box for a tap in, but he just pulled the ball behind him and the chance was gone.
Jamie Cumming had to pull out a big save minutes later from substitute Jay Robinson, who forced his way into the box and Cumming made a strong low save to his near post.
It was all Oxford pressure thereafter with Southampton having to defence for their lives to keep it level. Southampton did however have the big moment on the 77th minute when Adam Armstrong had a point blank effort on goal which looked destined for the net, but Cumming pulled off a heroic stop with his feet.
Then, in the 89th minute, Stan Mills produced the winning goal in a huge moment for United. It was an expertly taken goal, using all of his pace to get in behind the defence and then calmy slotted in with his left foot under all sorts of pressure.
It was an electric atmosphere inside the Kassam as the referee blew the final whistle. Huge win for the team, with another big game on Monday night at home to Swansea City.
Oxford United: Cumming, Spencer, Helik, Brown, Currie, De Keersmaecker, Goodrham, L. Harris (Krastev 66’), Placheta (Dembele 75’), Mills, Prelec (Lankshear 75’)
Subs: Ingram, Long, Vaulks, M. Harris, Romeny, Leigh
Southampton: Bazunu, Manning, Downes (Robinson 56’), Stephens, Hardwood-Bellis, Armstong, Azaz, Scienza (Romeu 56’), Wood-Gordon, Fellows (Fraser 70’), Jander
Subs: McCarthy, Aribo, Quarshie, Archer, Welington, Bragg
Attendance: 11,500 (1,490 away)
50/50: £1,514. 089467
