EFL Championship Beckons for Oxford United

Oxford United will be a Championship team next season as they defeated Bolton Wanderers 2-0 in the League One playoff final at Wembley. Joshua Murphy’s first-half brace was enough to see the U’s end their 25-year wait to play in the second tier of English football.

Joshua Murphy celebrates first half brace in League One playoff final. Photo Credit: Oxford United Instagram

The club last played in the old First Division in 1999 which was rebranded to the EFL Championship and has been on a downward spiral since. They were relegated from the Football League in 2006, the pinnacle of their fall. It took the club four years to be promoted back to the Football League which they achieved under the guidance of now Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder.

They moved one step up the pyramid in 2016 and have been plying their trade in the third tier since. The club had a chance to be promoted to the Championship in 2020 but a 2-1 loss at the hands of Wycombe Wanderers delayed their progress. Yet, four years later the U’s have gone one step further to being a Championship team under Desmond Buckingham.

Desmond Buckingham celebrates promotion at full time. Photo Credit: Oxford United Instagram

Buckingham took over Oxford United on November 16 after Liam Manning left to take over as Bristol City boss. Second in the league when he took charge, Buckingham experienced a mixed run of form until the end of the season but maintained a spot in a bid for promotion finishing 5th. Buckingham, a boyhood Oxford fan, led United past Peterborough in the semi-finals and then defeated Bolton under the Wembley arch.

Oxford United captain Elliott Moore lifts trophy after 2-0 over Bolton Wanderers. Photo Credit: Oxford United Instagram

Oxford United were winless against The Trotters in the regular season, drawing goalless at home and a heavy 5-0 defeat away just over two months ago. Fast forward to Saturday’s game and they’ve broken that winless run in style. Buckingham marveled over the club’s historic achievement.

“We didn’t want them to dictate the whole game. We either had to sit back and weather a storm which is never good to come here; We’ve got 35,000 people who come to watch us play Football, so we have to be brave and these are the moments where to need to step up and trust yourself and back yourself to do things, and I’m delighted with what I’ve just seen.”

Josh Murphy was named man of the match on the day. Murphy scored 8 goals and provided 4 assists this season, but his two against Bolton were his most important contribution since joining the club. He celebrated history with the motivation from his twin brother Jacob, who currently plays in the Premier League for Newcastle United.

Joshua Murphy lifts playoff final trophy. Photo Credit: EFL Instagram

“My brother keeps telling me ‘It’s your time to shine’, and I think I’ve done that today. This time last year, I got told to find another club, and now I’ve just got the club promoted.”

Bolton Wanderers who have been prolific in front of goal this season scoring 121 goals in all competitions were unable to find a shot on target. The Trotters will have to endure another season in League One having last played in the Championship in the 2018/19 season.

Oxford United will join Portsmouth and Derby County in the second tier next season, ending their wait to bring back Championship football to Kassam Stadium.