Sky Bet EFL Championship
Saturday 18 October 2025
Kassam Stadium
Oxford United… 1
(Mills 25’)
Derby County… 0
Oxford United got back to winning ways following a 1-0 victory over Derby County.
Stan Mills’ first goal of the season in the 25th minute was the difference in what was a dominant performance from Gary Rowett’s side, with the visitors failing to
Following a two week break for the October internationals, the U’s returned to Oxford with three changes from the defeat to Watford. It was a first appearance of the season for Ciaron Brown, with Will Vaulks and Jack Currie also in.
Stan Mills remained on the right wing, and he was in the heart of the action after 16 minutes and should have given United the lead. Cameron Brannagan found Mills with the long diagonal, and one-on-one with the keeper, the winger’s outside of the boot shot was well saved.
Two minutes later and again, United should have been in front. It took a double save from Jacob Zetterstrom to keep both of Brian De Keersmaecker’s efforts from inside of the are out, with the pressure mounting on Derby.
On 25 minutes, the goal finally came, with Mills grabbing his first of the season. De Keersmaecker was the creator, sending the former Everton man through on goal, and this time, he made no mistake, curling the ball keeper’s side and into the bottom corner.
It was all Oxford, and Nik Prelec had a glorious chance to make it 2-0 just 10 minutes later. Switching the ball onto his strong left foot 12 yard out, he blasted the ball over the bar.
In stoppage time in the first half, Prelec set up Michal Helik on the volley, and his effort from 10 yards out was tipped over the bar by Zetterstrom.
One goal at the break when it could have been so much more, a story which continued into the second period. Prelec was a handful all game and he set up his own opportunity inside the first three minutes, bullying the Derby defence to get through on goal, but this time, Zetterstrom reacted quickly to keep his shot out of the bottom right corner.
Brannagan was next to test the keeper on 58 minutes, this time Mills cut the ball back to the edge of the box, and the captain’s placed finish was beaten away.
It was a continuation of chances from the home side, the next one arriving on 65 minutes. A lovely flowing move ended with Prelec picked out in the area, but with his back to goal he laid it back to Vaulks who couldn’t keep his first time effort down.
On 70 minutes, it was another Prelec chance, this time Siriki Dembele curled the ball into the box for the Slovenian striker who flicked the ball with his head onto the roof of the net.
The chances continued to come, but the longer it stayed 1-0, the more the visitors threatened. In stoppage time, Derby had three successive corners to put the U’s under pressure, but they amounted to nothing.
A solid victory and performance to get the first home win of the season, with two away games to follow this week to Wrexham and Sheffield Wednesday.
Oxford United: Cumming, Spencer, Helik, Brown, Currie, Vaulks, Brannagan, De Keersmaecker, Mills (Placheta 70’), Dembele (Davies 89’), Prelec (M. Harris 89’)
Subs: Ingram, Long, Goodrham, Leigh, Lankshear, Krastev
Derby County: Zetterstrom, Forsyth (Elder 84’), Clarke, Morris, Brewster (Salvesen 85’), Wiemann (Agyemang 61’), Ozoh (Blackett-Taylor 70’), Johnston, Brereton Diaz, Sanderson, Adams
Subs: Vickers, Batth, Langas, Jackson, Clark
Attendance: 11,197 (1,484 away)
50/50: £1,317, 75112