Oxford United claimed a last-gasp 2-1 victory against Southampton at the Kassam Stadium, with Stan Mills scoring in the dying moments to secure all three points in the hosts’ first Championship game since the sacking of Gary Rowett.

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Tyler Goodrham’s Stunning Strike Gives Oxford the Lead

The game got off to an electrifying start as Oxford took the lead against the run of play. Midfielder Tyler Goodrham struck a sensational half-volley from outside the box, curling the ball into the near post and past Gavin Bazunu to give the U’s a 1-0 advantage.

Southampton responded quickly, however, drawing level just over five minutes later. From a Leo Scienza free-kick, defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis rose highest to head the ball home, cancelling out Goodrham’s opener and restoring parity before halftime.

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Late Drama Sees Stan Mills Secure Victory

The second half saw both sides create chances, with Oxford nearly regaining the lead when Przemyslaw Placheta forced a brilliant save from Bazunu and Nik Prelec missing a golden opportunity after a perfect pass from Mills.

It was in the final minutes that Stan Mills turned the match in Oxford’s favor. Reacting to a clever flick from Will Lankshear, Mills finished expertly past Bazunu, sending the Kassam Stadium into celebration and clinching a dramatic 2-1 win.

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Key Moments

• 10th minute: Southampton appealed for a penalty after Scienza appeared to be brought down in the box, but referee Leigh Doughty waved play on.
• Oxford chances: Mills’ clever runs and Prelec’s missed opportunity highlighted Oxford’s attacking threat.
• Defensive heroics: Both sides had moments of defensive brilliance, but Oxford held firm in the closing stages.

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Post-Match Reactions

Craig Short, interim Oxford manager, praised his players’ resilience and attacking mindset:

“You can’t play against these top sides without hanging in there. The substitutes made a really good impact — the best form of defence is attack, so let’s have a go.”

Southampton boss Tonda Eckert expressed disappointment:

“It’s disappointing because we wanted to start this block of games well. We lost calmness, and it was a very open game. We have nowhere near the amount of points that we need, but we play again in a few days and must start the second half of the season well.”

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Player of the Match

• Stan Mills (Oxford United) – decisive late goal, 8.06 average rating
• Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United) – stunning opening strike, 8.04 average rating
• J. Cumming (Oxford United) – solid performance in goal, 7.60 rating
• Will Lankshear (Oxford United) – creative playmaker, 7.18 rating

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Championship Implications

The win keeps Oxford United in strong form at home as they continue their Championship campaign, offering momentum under Craig Short’s interim leadership. Meanwhile, Southampton must recover quickly as they aim to improve their point tally in the league’s competitive second half of the season.