Oxford United continued their impressive run under new head coach Gary Rowett, drawing 1-1 away to Preston North End. The match, held at Deepdale, saw the U’s maintain their unbeaten streak, which now stretches to four games after Rowett’s appointment.
Oxford took the lead early on, with Rúben Rodrigues capitalizing on a mistake from Preston goalkeeper Freddie Woodman just after 20 minutes. It marked Rodrigues' second goal in as many games and reflected Oxford's offensive intent, as they looked to build on their recent successes against Cardiff City and Plymouth Argyle at home and Millwall on New Year’s Day.
Despite their strong start, Oxford’s lead was short-lived. Preston North End, motivated by the home crowd and searching for points to climb the Championship table, equalized through Will Keane, who headed home from close range with just over 20 minutes left in the match. The goal came after some concerted pressure from the home side, which saw them exploit spaces left by Oxford's defense late on.
Rowett expressed concern over his team's fatigue by the match’s end, noting, "I think it was a gamble to try and keep continuity. I knew today it might be a challenge." He recognized the impact of being in the fourth game of the period without significant changes to the lineup, emphasizing how this added to the physical strain on the players.
The beginning of the game was not without its challenges for Oxford. Just five minutes in, Preston's Sam Greenwood came close to scoring, but Oxford keeper Jamie Cumming was alert and managed to block the shot. This was indicative of the battle being fought on the pitch, where both teams were eager to secure valuable points.
Rowett had made two notable changes leading up to the match. With captain Elliott Moore sidelined after experiencing a groin issue during the last outing, Peter Kioso took over at right-back. Matt Phillips also started on the wing instead of Przemysław Płacheta. These updates reflected Rowett’s strategy to maintain team dynamics and competitiveness.
While Oxford initially appeared content to defend their lead, Rowett sensed the tide turning. "I thought they tried to drag us out of those little pockets," he stated, acknowledging Preston's ability to pull Oxford's defenders out of position, which led to gaps the home side could exploit.
At half-time, Rowett decided to shift Oxford's formation to regain control of the match, moving to either a 5-2-3 or 3-4-3 setup. This tactical tweak aimed to strengthen their defensive line following Keane’s goal, which Rowett described as "a simple finish" from close range due to poor marking from his side.
After the equalizer, both teams pushed for the decisive goal. Oxford continued to create chances, the most notable being when substitute Hidde ter Avest set up Rodrigues for what looked like another goal-scoring opportunity. Unfortunately for the U’s, Rodrigues’ effort was comfortably saved by Woodman.
With four minutes remaining, Oxford almost regained the lead when Siriki Dembélé broke free. He was fouled just outside the area, leading to Will Vaulks taking the free-kick. The attempt seemed destined for goal but was deflected off course, ensuring both teams walked away with a point.
The match ended with both sides sharing the spoils, a result which Rowett was pleased with under the circumstances. "To not play particularly well and get a point here, in my opinion, is the best result of the four, and the one I'm probably most proud of because we dug deep and showed character," he remarked after the final whistle.
Following this performance, Oxford United moved up to 17th place in the Championship standings, presenting some breathing space above the relegation zone. They now turn their attention to upcoming fixtures with hopes of building on the resilience they displayed against Preston. With Rowett at the helm, there's growing optimism among supporters for what lies ahead.