Opposition…
After spending several seasons in Sky Bet League One, Oxford earned promotion to the Sky Bet Championship for the 2024/25 season via the play-offs, defeating Bolton Wanderers 2–0 at Wembley. This marked a major milestone, as it was their first time back in the second tier since the late 1990s.
Under boss Gary Rowett, the U’s have become known for their strong defensive discipline but struggle to score goals. Their 17th-place finish last term saw their two joint top scorers finish on six goals for the campaign.
So far in the pre-season, Oxford have spent most of their time in Indonesia competing in the President’s Cup, where they reached the final against Port F.C. However, they were defeated 2-1 by the side from Bangkok.
Oxford have been active in the summer window so far, bringing in two new faces to bolster Rowett’s side. Brian De Keersmaecker, a 24-year-old Belgian midfielder, signed from Heracles Almelo and Brodie Spencer, a 21-year-old Northern Ireland international right-back, signed from Huddersfield Town. These additions will aid Oxford in their upcoming campaign in the Sky Bet Championship as they look to cement themselves as regulars in the division.