• Wed. Feb 19th, 2025

Thunderous free kick from midfield maestro ensures three points for U’s

Byoxfordnewspaper

Jan 19, 2025

A THUNDEROUS free kick from Cameron Brannagan ensured Oxford United collected all three points at home against Sky Bet Championship play-off hopefuls Blackburn Rovers.

The rocket set piece from the U’s midfielder was the only goal of the game at Grenoble Road, arriving midway through the second half.

Siriki Dembele was fouled 20 yards from goal, left of centre, and Brannagan stepped up to unleash a wicked free kick which flew past the wall and into the top corner.

Gary Rowett gave a full debut to new signing Michal Helik at centre back following his arrival from Huddersfield Town on Friday evening, with fellow new recruit Tom Bradshaw named on the bench.

Helik replaced Sam Long in the starting line-up, while Dembele came in for Matt Phillips in the only other change from the side which drew 1-1 at Plymouth Argyle in midweek.

United had the first glimpse of goal, with seven minutes on the clock, when a snapshot from Ruben Rodrigues inside the penalty box forced a smart save out of Aynsley Pears in the Rovers goal.

A couple of minutes later, the U’s had the ball in the back of the net, however the offside flag was straight up.

Dembele struck across goal, and Pears got down low to the effort, with Mark Harris tucking away the loose ball, but from an offside position.

Rodrigues then found Greg Leigh with a through ball down the left-hand side, with the full back fizzing a first-time cross into the feet of Harris, who sidefooted an effort which Pears pushed away.

Rovers though grew into the half, and a piledriver from John Buckley was well hit first-time, but always rising.

Jamie Cumming then saved with his outstretched foot to deny Andreas Weimann inside the penalty area, but it remained goalless at the break.

Four minutes into the second period, Buckley carried the ball forward through the middle of the pitch and unleashed a stinging effort from distance which Cumming did well to fist away.

At the other end, Przemyslaw Placheta dug out a left-footed volley inside the box, forcing Pears to push the strike behind for a corner, while a big chance fell for United nine minutes into the second half.

Dembele stroked the ball across to Harris, who fired a shot into the chest of Pears when in a good position just inside the area.

Brannagan nudged the U’s in front with 67 minutes on the clock, smashing home a free kick won by Dembele.

The set piece was 20 yards out and to the left, with Brannagan stepping up and unleashing a ferocious rocket which flew into Pears’ top far corner.

Rowett made his first alterations soon after, introducing Alex Matos for Rodrigues, and Bradshaw for his debut in place of Harris, while Dembele was then forced off after picking up a whack, with Phillips on to replace him.

United remained in broad control of the match, limiting the goalmouth action for Rovers, and with just over five minutes to go, almost doubled their lead.

Placheta looked to cut inside from the right and shoot with his left foot, yet Will Vaulks ran onto the ball and struck a good effort which took a slight nick and flew narrowly wide of the post.

Six minutes were added on, and despite some nervy moments from a couple of Rovers set pieces, including right back Callum Brittain smashing over from inside the box, the U’s were able to hold onto their lead and secure all three points.

Oxford United (4-2-3-1): Cumming; Kioso, Helik, Brown, Leigh; Vaulks, Brannagan; Placheta (El Mizouni 90), Rodrigues (Matos 71), Dembele (Phillips 79); Harris (Bradshaw 71).

Unused subs: Ingram, Thorniley, ter Avest, Sibley, Scarlett.

Booked: Helik.

Blackburn Rovers (4-2-3-1): Pears; Brittain, Hyam, Batth, Beck; Tronstad (Forshaw 28), Buckley (Rankin-Costello 81); Cozier-Duberry (Dolan 59), Cantwell, Weimann (Hedges 59); Gueye (Leonard 59).

Unused subs: Toth, Sanderson, O’Grady-Macken, Dunn.

Booked: Gueye, Cantwell, Brittain.

Referee: Will Finnie (Bedfordshire)

Attendance: 11,407 (1,501 visitors)