Championship 06/03/2026 - MDT: Preston North End v Oxford United

[Gregortheox]

Come on it’s possible!!!!

 

[Berliner]

Cumming

Yes, after that performance I almost was...

 

[EastSussexOx]

Most pleasing thing for me was how hard everyone in the team worked, all our forward players put in a real shift which was great to see. I have had doubts with both Brown and Helik this season due to lack of pace and poor distribution but both warriors today and a constant menace in the opposition box, love that for to big old boys, they score most of there goals with there feet with fine strikers instincts.

 

[Nadi-]

Misses a sitter & then at fault for Preston’s goal.

How does Ciaron Brown respond? By scoring the third & sealing the three points.

Type of characters you want in a relegation battle.

Lankshear was at fault for their goal.
Shut Whiteman down, then drifted off for a second.

 

[Jster]

I know it's a bad idea to dream, but if Blackburn lose to Portsmouth today and we beat them, we go above them.

If that's combined with Charlton losing to Brum today and then at Middlesbrough, and us then beating them too, we also go above Charlton.

Ok, it's very unlikely, and I'm getting carried away, but nice to be able to have such thoughts, when I thought we were very much down just a week or so ago.

 

[OtteryYellow]

I know it's a bad idea to dream, but if Blackburn lose to Portsmouth today and we beat them, we go above them.

If that's combined with Charlton losing to Brum today and then at Middlesbrough, and us then beating them too, we also go above Charlton.

Ok, it's very unlikely, and I'm getting carried away, but nice to be able to have such thoughts, when I thought we were very much down just a week or so ago.

Doesn't sound that unlikely to me!

 

[OUFCwaffle]

What I'll say is that for the first time in a long time we've been confident and fluid on the ball, working in packs to press off the ball, but not being exposed at the back, and just generally in control of the whole game.

Not only is it a great win but the manner is what makes it so much more promising and shows we have enough quality and desire to stay up.

Looks like we have found a starting 11 that works too, part of our problem before was the constant chopping and changing of lineups. Hopefully the team can now settle and stay competitive for the remainder of the season.

We just need to maintain that level. COYY!

 

[RgYellows]

I am really enjoying that we had 30% of the ball and the lions share of the best chances. It shows a directness that makes for the most exciting football, and is more of what I’d call a distinct Oxford United identity than trying to copy everyone else with tippy tappy b*****s.

Comparisons to what Karl Robinson did in League One with 7-8 players who went on to hold down starting roles for teams in the league above are unfair. But once again with this team we saw so much heart from so many of the players - none more than Stan Mills, and credit to him, because putting the biggest shift in for an OUFC team that includes Long and Brannagan is no mean feat.

Donley makes a huge difference, playing alongside Lankshear and bringing a bit of BDKs ability to slow down in possession and let things develop before he tries to play a pass. I do believe that BDK, Bran, Donley, McDonnell and Konak is a midfield that truly belongs at this level.

Well done to Spencer who got turned twice in quick succession at the start but settled down and made it work. Currie might have struggled but it wasn’t for lack of effort and glad to hear it wasn’t an injury.

A little bit of credit for Mark Harris, who understood the assignment out on the left perfectly. Got stuck in to all the hard defensive work, made a couple of good challenges, and generally helped slow the game down (which he hasn’t often managed to do, or had to do, at this level). He communicated really well with Spencer, and actually managed to influence the officials and get in their players heads a bit.

With the two performances Helik has put in the last two games, you see why the gamble with Missoko paid off. Imagine telling a seasoned Championship veteran like Helik that CM is too good to have to play by the same rules as you. There is so much more to winning games at this level than technical ability alone.

Really well done to all who travelled. Remember that there will be twists and turns yet. Teams like Preston will fall prey to others who are more desperate for wins. By the same token, we have gone to Coventry and Middlesbrough this season and picked up points, so we should not fear absolutely anyone or write off any game.

We should all enjoy the fact that Blackburn and Pompey have to go into battle today with no bad outcome for us. Our boys can take the day off, Blackburn have to make another long journey on Wednesday night, us fans need to match what the players gave us last night.

 

[Osei Yaw]

I enjoyed this comment from a Preston fan on the BBC:

"We can’t score, can’t defend and flop about like a jellyfish on smack."

 

[Cass63]

Stan mills helping out at the back and then not scared to run the length of the pitch is helping too. He was my mom tonight and has looked a lot more dangerous lately.
Shout out to Lanks as well, for a young lad he likes the battle with some experienced defenders, nice to see him scoring again.
No one had a bad game last night, is this all coming together at just the right time?

 

[OUFC1978]

When the goal went in from MPHs throw in you can see him grabbing the badge on his shirt towards the fans. Some were saying he was likely to be off at seasons end regardless of division but I’m not so sure! He’s falling in love with the Ox!
I also like that when he takes his long throws he is way over the line! Surprised no one has called foul throw cos he does it every time.

 

[EastStandKieran]

What a difference a week makes on football we were dead and on our way to being buried this time last Saturday. A week later and we are alive and kicking

Hopefully some of the results go our way today

I can't wait for Wednesday night now

 

[londonyellow]

Best performance of the season for me.

Agree. You were excellent.

 

[holdsteady]

When the goal went in from MPHs throw in you can see him grabbing the badge on his shirt towards the fans. Some were saying he was likely to be off at seasons end regardless of division but I’m not so sure! He’s falling in love with the Ox!
I also like that when he takes his long throws he is way over the line! Surprised no one has called foul throw cos he does it every time.

I noticed that at home games, it’s blatant but he is getting away with it.

 

[Sarge]

Ref was superb

better than many for sure

 

[londonyellow]

Stan mills helping out at the back and then not scared to run the length of the pitch is helping too. He was my mom tonight and has looked a lot more dangerous lately.
Shout out to Lanks as well, for a young lad he likes the battle with some experienced defenders, nice to see him scoring again.
No one had a bad game last night, is this all coming together at just the right time?

Stan is becoming a proper player. Easy to forget how young he still is – and that he basically missed a year of development through injury. Love the guy.

 

[Big Ronaldo]

Just woke up from this wonderful dream…!

 

[Sarge]

I hope Leicester go down. And Spurs for that matter. Can you imagine Spurs away

if we play spurs twice next season, perhaps we will finally notch up a league win against them?

 

[Morris Oxford]

Confidence and momentum is so important in sport, and from somewhere the manager and players have found some.

Plus the dice have fallen nicely with recent matches against teams struggling with form (Leicester, WBA, Preston) , but you’ve still got to perform and get a result against those side, and now hopefully a win against Blackburn on Wednesday evening.

To me it looks as if Bloomfield has studied what Rowett did to get us out of trouble in the second half half of last season, and replicated it with a few of his own tweaks ie focus on long throws, set pieces, free kick, our centre halves are suddenly getting on the scoresheet.

No complaints from me, as in golf ‘it’s not how it’s how many’. Do what it takes and if that means 30% possession and a low block, long throws and free kicks pumped into the box from all angles for the rest of the season then so be it.

Konak is going to have a huge part to play between now and the rest of the season.

It’s the hope that kills you….

 

[Big Ron]

The defence was superb tonight. We can do this.

Donley makes a big difference. We are very threatening in transition all of a sudden.

Preston fans, a good bunch, complimentary in the pub afterwards. They want us to stay up. ‘You’re a proper club who demand respect.’ Nice to hear.

Off to see Salford tomorrow in continuing quest for 92 club glory . I will be looking out for the Scouse legend in his own lunchtime.

You did the right thing staying up Tim - made the last minute decision to go with my son and didn’t get back to SW London until after 2am.

Have had to miss a few games recently but I thought the fans were brilliant. Made a lot of noise throughout and the players appreciated that. Nice touch from the club thanking us in advance with the note from Bloomfield.

 

[Cass63]

One more thing from me, shame we can’t play against Gibson every week, he was bloody awful.

 

[Big Ron]

One more thing from me, shame we can’t play against Gibson every week, he was bloody awful.

Saw a couple of comments on their forum prior to the game about him being easily bullied and they were spot on!

 

[Osei Yaw]

One more thing from me, shame we can’t play against Gibson every week, he was bloody awful.

I was disappointed he was subbed off as I was looking forward to watching Prelec knock him about.

 

[Dubai Yellow]

Looked like a proper team last night. Great to watch. Well done!

 

[Yellows1]

What a fantastic win! - My take was although MB didn’t have the best of starts, he is still learning his trade, BUT, he straight away created a connection with our club and fans, he genuinely seems to care and I love his passion.

He seems to be finding his feet and seems to love it here, I love that, he also seems tactically very good and is not scared to make changes at any point in games.

It’s an old cliche but when we have our backs to the wall our club pulls together!

We can do this, I never doubted it!

 

[Yellows1]

BTW - If we do stay up, I wonder if we will try and keep Donley and Konak (Hope ao).

 

[bazzer9461]

BTW - If we do stay up, I wonder if we will try and keep Donley and Konak (Hope ao).

We have an option on Donley

 

[Essexyellows]

I know it's a bad idea to dream, but if Blackburn lose to Portsmouth today and we beat them, we go above them.

If that's combined with Charlton losing to Brum today and then at Middlesbrough, and us then beating them too, we also go above Charlton.

Ok, it's very unlikely, and I'm getting carried away, but nice to be able to have such thoughts, when I thought we were very much down just a week or so ago.

Festa are away at Ipswich ..... can`t see them getting much there on their current form.

 

[Isle of Wight Yellow]

Do what it takes and if that means 30% possession and a low block, long throws and free kicks pumped into the box from all angles for the rest of the season then so be it.

You say that but we actually created quite a few chances from open play as well last night, and broke well and counterattacked quickly. Maybe some of that was due to how poor PNE were at the back but still, I wouldn’t call it a classic defensive and set piece performance…

 

[Mad Dog]

Just demolished a huge fry up, and nursing a pretty sore head, after last nights celebrations!

Fantastic result!

All over the pitch, we were superb, but special mentions for Mills, who's getting better and better as a player now, and had his best game for us, Konak, who was everywhere and has become such an important midfield presence, who surely has made that position his own now, and Helik, who took his goal brilliantly, and although he was at fault for the equaliser, had a great game.

The upturn in the overall performance level of the team has been tremendous, and has given us renewed hope of a great escape, we've hit form and gathered momentum at just the right time, keep it going boys!!

Feels good to have this weekend's points in the bag already, and being dragged around the shops today doesn't feel like such a monotonous chore, I might even treat myself to a milkshake!

Well done Matt and the lads

Bring on Blackburn!!

 

[Eaststanding]

There’s a real togetherness’s that wasn’t there with Rowett, back slapping, high fiving etc, you can see they’re fully invested in keeping us up, together.
A very good ref.
Another cracking away crowd, no moaning, no slagging players off, some good old faces who kept the old songs going.
We’re doing what we need to, the rest is in the lap of the footballing gods.
Keep the faith.