Oxford United Secures First Away Win Under Gary Rowett

Oxford United secured their first away win of the season, continuing their strong form under new manager Gary Rowett with a 1-0 victory over Millwall at The Den. The win marked Oxford’s third consecutive victory since Rowett’s appointment, lifting them five points clear of the relegation zone. The only goal of the game came in the 57th minute when Ruben Rodrigues rose above Millwall’s Japhet Tanganga to head home a cross from Przemyslaw Placheta.

The result was a disappointing one for Millwall, who suffered a defeat in Alex Neil’s first match as manager. Millwall’s struggles in front of goal continued with the Lions failing to score in five of their last seven matches. Despite creating more opportunities than Oxford including some wide attacks, Millwall lacked the clinical edge needed to break down Oxford’s defense.

Their best chance came in the form of a weak penalty appeal for a challenge on George Saville but it was dismissed by the referee. Oxford, who had previously struggled away from home, showed resilience and confidence under Rowett’s guidance. Rowett praised his team’s defensive discipline and their improvement throughout the match. Millwall’s disappointing form which includes just one win in their last 10 games, led to boos from the home fans after the final whistle.

Looking ahead, Oxford United will aim to build on this result in their next away match against mid-table Preston, a side they could overtake with a victory. Millwall, on the other hand will need to address their attacking woes to avoid further slide down the table. Rowett emphasized the importance of a gritty performance especially in difficult away games while Neil acknowledged areas for improvement in his side’s play.