Oxford managed to stun promotion hopefuls Ipswich with a 2-1 win to move out of the Championship drop zone on Friday night.
The U’s picked up their first win in six matches to see them climb up to 19th, ahead of the weekend’s games, while Ipswich remain 5th after their six-game unbeaten run come to an end.
Mark Harris had put Oxford ahead on 24 minutes after a Walton save and Ipswich defensive error. But Leif Davis levelled with a fine volley from a corner early in the second half.
Przemyslaw Placheta came off the bench and then scored a brilliant solo winner on 77 minutes, controlling a long ball and slotting home.
Oxford United boss Gary Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford:
“You saw us drop into the bottom three, the players were completely aware of that, they realised it was a big game for us.
“It was always going to be difficult, they’re a very talented side, they keep the ball really well and make it difficult for you to jump out.
“But I thought at moments we showed brilliant energy, brilliant defensive shape, to go 1-0 up and into the break without conceding too many big chances.
“When they scored we had a choice – do we sit in and allow them to dictate the game or do we make changes and go for it?
“I thought the changes worked and at 1-1 we stepped up and were brilliant for 15 or 20 minutes after that.”
Rowett, per Sky Sports:
“If you’re a No 9 and you’re not scoring goals, of course you’re going to come under fire and people are going to question why you are putting him in.
“But when you see him day in, day out, Sparky works so hard for the team, he’s a selfless player, he presses brilliantly.
“He’s looked confident in training and it’s great to see him score. The rest of the players will be buzzing for him because they know how much he brings to the side.
“Przemy’s got the pace to hurt any side, but with his goal it was a great pass from Brian [De Keersmaecker] and I thought his touch was good, and he finished it really well.
“We made a few changes, I felt we had to because it was a particularly tough week, to play Saturday, Tuesday, Friday. There were a few big calls – starting Sparky instead of Will [Lankshear] was one I toyed with all day.
“I was really disappointed with the goal we conceded, it was a good finish but too easy a goal to concede.
“And then there was a real decision to make – sit in and hang on for a point, or do we show a bit of quality and ambition, and character, and make changes to the way we were playing? For 10-15 minutes we stepped up really well.
“It’s been a big week for us – two good draws and then a win against a well-coached side with some very good players.”
“You have to show a different side to your game!”
Gary Rowett on picking up crucial points against the Championship’s top teams this season 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/PpbICMUoEk
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 28, 2025
Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna told BBC Radio Suffolk:
“We weren’t clinical enough when we had the game in the two big spells, probably at the start of the game we got into so many good positions. A couple of good chances to go and take the lead.
“And then when we get to 1-1, we had a couple of really good chances again to get to 2-1.
“We weren’t clinical enough in terms of the chances we had and then we’ve given away two really poor goals.
“The first goal is an individual thing, so we will support the player [Azor Matusiwa] with that because that can happen over the course of a long season and the player has been doing brilliant for us.
“The second goal was poor organisation from us from what was their only threat at that point – it was going to be a counter-attack or a set play.
“It feels like we’ve given the game away a little bit.”
McKenna, per Sky Sports:
“We weren’t clinical enough in the phases of the game where we had control, and we’ve given away two poor goals that changed the momentum of the game and the energy in the stadium.
“It’s frustrating because it feels a bit like we’ve given the game away, on the back of a pretty good run. But there was still plenty of the performance that was fine – the players never gave up, even at 2-1 down.
“In the second half once we had got level, it felt the only way Oxford were going to score was going to be on the counter or from a long throw. It came on the counter when we were pushing to try to get the winning goal, and we didn’t deal with it well enough.
“Goals change games. Their first goal rocked us a bit, and it was the same for the second goal.
“It was frustrating that we didn’t score more from the chances we had in the second half. We’ve been very clinical in our last few away games. Tonight we weren’t, and it’s cost us.”
🗣️ “We should’ve handled it better…”
Kieran McKenna reflects on Ipswich’s tough loss to Oxford United 😬 pic.twitter.com/m5DCd9KsVb
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 28, 2025
Oxford United midfielder Will Vaulks speaking to Sky Sports:
“Really happy with it. I think we showed in the last 20 minutes, half-an-hour, the grit and determination the group has got.
“We spoke about over the last few weeks about becoming a bit more hard to beat. Defending the box I think we were brilliant.
“It’s a massive win for us in the situation we’re in against a fantastic team.
“Their budget blows us out the water, so amazing win. Really happy.
“We’ve put some good performances together but maybe not got the points we deserve. But that’s football and tonight I think we deserved that.
“We’ve shown now that we can come up against anyone, but we can’t come off the level. Our level has to be right at the top.”
🗣️ “We’ve shown we can compete with anyone…”
Will Vaulks and Przemyslaw Placheta share their full-time thoughts after Oxford United’s crucial win over fifth-placed Ipswich! pic.twitter.com/Nl4Rs6LU0U
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 28, 2025
🗣️ “They deserve so much credit!”
Darren Bent and Jamie Mackie on Gary Rowett’s summer transfer spend at Oxford United! 💰 pic.twitter.com/7qy0I3OK8g
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 28, 2025
“[Gary Rowett] is an excellent coach.” 👏
Jamie Mackie praises Oxford United’s drive this season 💪 pic.twitter.com/wJ21D5IyIa
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 28, 2025
Oxford United’s match-winner Przemyslaw Placheta speaking to Sky Sports:
“Amazing. I’m very pleased with the goal and that I can help the team win the game. Like Will [Vaulks] said, we always put everything on the pitch for the whole 90.
“We need to believe and we need to be hard to beat on our pitch, so I’m very pleased with the win.”
On his instructions from boss Gary Rowett when he was brought on:
“Obviously score a goal and win the game. But no, very pleased with the team performance.”
Here’s how fans reacted after Oxford stun promotion hopefuls Ipswich with a 2-1 win to move out of the Championship drop zone…
@LancsYellow: Huge 3 points, but unless we play consistently it means nothing #OUFC
@heyit5sam: Clearly have to enjoy the win, lads earned that. Please be the turning point in the season. If we have a go, we can cause teams problems
@Jamesasr89: Not even halfway through the season and only 9pts off the play offs… just saying
@GoodrhamSZN: fair fucking play to rowett, harris and shemmy, rowett got all the subs spot on tonight, more of this to come hopefully, get the fuck in 💛
@Jamiewi55927928: Where are the Harris and Rowett haters now
@browneyscfc: All is forgiven mr rowett x
@DamianSmul35934: Best performance of the season energy teamwork and a win
@RaggedDan: I’d say every man put in a top performance tonight, delighted for Sparky, substitutions were just right. Fantastic – felt like it needed to be either a win in the week or today and coming away with four points is ideal 💛💛💛
@PeteLinzey: This is so fucking Oxford 🤣 Literally no idea where that came from but my god im so proud of literally every single one of them tonight. If anything that will give us MASSIVE confidence moving forward. You yellows 💛
@gabrielbeech5: That is an outstanding result. If you had offered me 5 points from boro Norwich and Ipswich at this point last week I would’ve absolutely snapped your hand or for it. These were in the prem last year they are a top side with top players. Best result of the season so far. #OUFC
@Piggywwop: felt as though we set up poorly for Norwich, but that was a tactical blinder from Gary Rowett today. Fav part of that was how we continued to push on from 2-1. Onto Swansea 💛 #OUFC
@craigyjones17: Fully deserved win for OUFC too 👍 This league is a bit nuts really. Everyone just beats each other, wherever they are in the table . . . . apart from Coventry who are sat there laughing whilst being handed the title on a plate!
@JensonWheatley: COYYY Great performance rowett proved me wrong but we need to carry on the consistency to swansea
@ChrisPenny13: have taken 4 points from the last 2 games…… think everyone thought they would come the other way round though!
@GeorgeHogg93: Ha ha! Gary Rowett, you made us look tricky to beat again! Should’ve done them 3-1 really; just goes to show you that was so much better than the shit show at Norwich. Get in, you beautiful bastard YELLOWS! #oufc 💙💛
@chazitfc: Deserved, you gave me enough laughs in the week 🤣🤝
@spence_ross1: Huge this is, we take advantage of this tomorrow we’ll be 16 points ahead (13 if they win there game in hand on Tuesday) and we then play them the following Saturday. #PUSB
@Brad_Pittick99: Unreal result. What a shift the lads put in💪 I give them stick and ask questions of them every week but only praise for Harris and Płacheta tonight🔥 hopefully that gives them confidence to kick on from here!!! Massive game away at Swansea next COYY💛💙 #OUFC
🤫 https://t.co/rUQIRb7Lib pic.twitter.com/L1EPMdM1ZK
— Adam Slade (@oufc_adam) November 28, 2025
