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Oxford United vs Sheffield United. Sky Bet Championship.

3:00pm, Saturday 5th April 2025.

The Kassam StadiumAttendance11,496.

Oxford United 1-0 Sheffield United: Siriki Dembele scores winner for U's as Blades' promotion hopes suffer a blow

Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Oxford United and Sheffield United at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday; Siriki Dembele scores only goal to damage Blades' promotion hopes

Saturday 5 April 2025 18:12, UK

Siriki Dembele's first-half goal gave struggling Oxford a 1-0 win over promotion-chasing Sheffield United at the Kassam Stadium and ruined Chris Wilder's return to his former club.

It denied the Blades a return to the top of the Sky Bet Championship table, where they had started the day.

Burnley's 2-1 victory at Coventry had earlier taken the Clarets to the top - and Wilder's team could do nothing about it.

In a scrappy encounter, Dembele struck in the 38th minute, rolling the ball past goalkeeper Michael Cooper from close range after Michal Helik then Ciaron Brown helped on Will Vaulks' long throw.

It was only Dembele's second goal of the season - he also hit the winner in Oxford's previous home game against Watford.

The Blades, who had boasted the best away record in the Championship, were not at their best but came up against an Oxford side that battled for everything in difficult, windy conditions.

Oxford boss Gary Rowett reverted to the side that beat Watford 1-0 in their last home fixture, while Wilder named an unchanged side.

After a quiet start, Rhian Brewster fired in a shot on the turn that took a slight deflection for the visitors. Soon after, at the other end, Oxford centre-half Helik met Dembele's corner with a firm header which was straight at goalkeeper Michael Cooper.

Oxford's players were adamant that forward Ole Romeny was elbowed when he went for a header inside the box but neither referee James Linington nor his assistant saw it.

Wilder's men went close in the 22nd minute when Harrison Burrows took a return pass to get in behind the home defence and struck an early angled shot that Jamie Cumming beat away.

Cumming made an even better save with an outstretched leg from Tyrese Campbell's low shot.

Oxford relied a lot on Vaulks' long throws and the height of Helik, Brown and Ben Nelson.

There was a good response from the Blades after going behind, with Cumming having to make a smart save from Sydie Peck at his near post.

The visitors piled on the pressure in the second half, with Oxford hoping to capitalise on quick counter-attacks.

Brown made an outstanding last-ditch interception when Brewster threatened, before Cumming got down low to save an unconvincing Campbell effort.

Peck tried his luck from 30 yards and saw the shot whistle past the post.

Oxford defended frantically at times, both from corners and Jack Robinson's long throws, but held out for only their second win in 12 games - and a massive three points in their bid to beat the drop.

The managers

Oxford's Gary Rowett:

"It was a massive performance. I thought from the word go we looked on it and up for the fight and up for making it a very competitive game.

"When you looked at the conditions and the opposition we were up against, we had to make it a little bit scruffy and a bit of a fight, and I thought we started on the front foot, very brightly.

"At this stage of the season it's just about trying to get the results you need, not about how they come about.

"I thought the atmosphere was brilliant from the start and that makes such a difference to me, to the staff, to the players and the crowd got behind us because they saw a team fighting with less tools than the likes of Sheffield United - and we certainly made them work today.

"Jamie Cumming made a fabulous save (in the) first half and that's a big moment that makes sure we don't go behind.

"Siriki Dembele's been excellent. At the start of the season Tyler (Goodrham) had that shirt, but I know what 'Dems' is capable of.

"He's got so much talent and he's put so much hard work and energy into that, playing very diligently for the team.

"He has got that danger about him and he's won us the last two home games.

"It's nowhere near job done. But this win gives us a fantastic opportunity and we have to now make sure we don't under-perform on Wednesday.

"After such a big result like this, we've got to put in another big performance against a QPR side who will be fighting for their own points.

"I'm proud of my team today and their desire to keep a clean sheet."

Sheffield United's Chris Wilder:

"We were up against a team fighting for their life and they stuck it on us with long throws which were massive, and quality at the top of the pitch, and we never really dealt with that.

"We had one or two opportunities before they scored which we should possibly have taken.

"But that's what happens when you're up against an opponent you're expected to beat and the crowd's vociferous and right behind their team. When they get a goal in front in that situation it becomes a difficult afternoon.

"Gary's an extremely talented manager and a good operator, and one (goal) was always going to be enough.

"They sat in, the pitch was dry, it was windy, so it wasn't a fast game from our point of view and we tried to slow it down, which I didn't enjoy.

"We played too slow, we were too ponderous, the ball speed wasn't quick enough from us and allowed them to sit into their shape.

"Then I thought, from a technical point of view, the quality of our players…. we made so many poor decisions in terms of what to do with the ball, and technically poor decisions with loose passing, crosses behind the goal and not playing well as individuals.

"It is what it is. There was an opportunity there to gain three points but when you don't do enough, and full credit to Oxford United and to Gary - they deserved their win - it obviously means an incredible away record comes to an end.

"I didn't see this coming."