Oxford United secured a 1-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers at the Kassam Stadium on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Jamie Donley scored the lone goal in the 34th minute, giving Oxford their third consecutive Championship win and pulling them level on points with Leicester City in the race for safety. The defeat leaves Blackburn Rovers one point above the relegation zone.
The match proceeded under heavy emotional circumstances. Before kickoff, the stadium observed a minute of silence, followed by a minute of applause in the 15th minute, to honor Amelia Aplin. The 15-year-old Oxford Academy goalkeeper collapsed and died during a match against Fulham the previous weekend. Blackburn captain Todd Cantwell laid flowers on behalf of the visiting squad prior to the match, a gesture that resonated across the wider sports community.
Donley capitalized on a rebound to secure the win. Blackburn goalkeeper Balazs Toth parried a header from Myles Peart-Harris, which originated from a Stan Mills cross. Donley finished the rebound for his first goal since joining the club on loan in January 2026.
The 20-year-old attacking midfielder, recalled from Stoke City by Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the 2025/2026 campaign, played 87 minutes in his sixth appearance for Oxford across all competitions. Fellow Tottenham loanee Will Lankshear also started for Oxford and played 73 minutes before being substituted.
Oxford United’s current three-game winning streak marks their first such run since returning to the Championship in 2024. Manager Michael O’Neill’s Blackburn Rovers squad faces increasing relegation pressure as they drop closer to the bottom three.
GOAL: Jamie Donley puts the U's ahead!
1-0.#oufc 🟡https://t.co/O7Y4YFet7G
— malachi (@MalachiObrey) March 11, 2026