Oxford United: Relegated U's Challenge Millwall's Promotion Bid
Oxford United, already relegated, faces promotion-chasing Millwall in the Championship season finale. Discover the stats and what's at stake for both clubs.
Oxford United will conclude their Championship season by facing promotion-chasing Millwall at The Den on Saturday (12:30 BST). The U's, whose return to League One was confirmed last weekend, now stand in the way of Millwall's Premier League aspirations. This final fixture holds significant weight for the Lions, who are battling for an automatic promotion spot.
Millwall's promotion destiny hangs in the balance as they welcome the already-relegated Oxford United. After a draw against Leicester last Friday, Alex Neil's side is one point behind Ipswich, who currently hold the second automatic promotion place. For Millwall to secure direct promotion to the Premier League for the first time, they need a victory coupled with Ipswich failing to beat QPR at Portman Road.
Even if Ipswich secures a win, three points for Millwall against Oxford United would still guarantee them third place and crucial home advantage in the upcoming play-offs. Meanwhile, Oxford United's relegation to League One after two seasons in the Championship was sealed last Saturday, despite their home win over Sheffield Wednesday. This match marks their final appearance in the second tier for at least a season.
Historically, Millwall has struggled against Oxford United in recent league encounters, being winless in their last four meetings (two draws, two losses) after previously winning six in a row. Oxford United also boasts a strong away record at The Den, having won both of their past two league visits – a unique achievement as they've never before won twice consecutively away to the Lions.
Looking at final league game performances, Millwall has lost their season finale in four of the past five seasons, with their only win being a 1-0 victory at Swansea in 2023-24. In contrast, Oxford United has a more positive record, winning their final league game in five of their past seven second-tier seasons, though they did draw 3-3 with Swansea on the final day last season.
Millwall's overall performance this season has been notable, with 23 Championship wins to their name. This marks their highest number of victories at this level since the 1987-88 season, when they secured 25 wins en route to winning the title. This strong season record underscores their determination to achieve promotion against Oxford United.