Matt Bloomfield ‘elated’ after first Oxford United victory

Matt Bloomfield ‘elated’ after first Oxford United victory

Matt Bloomfield said he was filled with “pure elation” after Oxford United claimed a famous 2-1 victory over Championship heavyweights Leicester City on Saturday.

The U’s made the perfect start at the King Power Stadium, with Sam Long breaking the deadlock inside five minutes. The defender burst into the penalty area to meet a flicked-on long throw and calmly swept the ball home.

Oxford thought they had doubled their advantage soon after, only for the goal to be ruled out, but Bloomfield’s side refused to be discouraged.

Their persistence was rewarded in the second half when Mark Harris struck on the counter-attack, rounding Leicester goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk before finishing with composure.

Leicester mounted late pressure and pulled a goal back through Abdul Fatawu, yet Oxford held firm to secure an impressive away win.

“Pure elation,” Bloomfield repeated afterwards. “Being a head coach or manager brings plenty of difficult moments. You have to show resilience and keep pushing, and days like this make all of that worthwhile.

Seeing the way the team performed and being able to share that moment with the staff, players and supporters reminds you why you do this job.

“Leicester are a huge football club – Premier League champions not too long ago. To come here and get a result on a stage like this is special.

When we walked out before kick-off, you could really feel the size of the club. They’ve got some outstanding players, so for us to produce that level of performance against such strong opposition is a great feeling.”

Oxford faced a stern test throughout the match, having a goal controversially disallowed, conceding late on, and spending long periods without the ball – Leicester dominated possession with 77 per cent. Despite that, the visitors never lost their composure.

January signings Myles Peart-Harris and Jamie McDonnell, who made his full debut, were particularly impressive, underlining the immediate impact of the club’s transfer business.

“It’s difficult because when you bring in more than one or two players, you can’t throw everyone in at once without risking looking disjointed,” Bloomfield added. “You want to add freshness, but not so much that it disrupts the balance of the team.

“Yunus Konak has been unlucky not to feature again since the first half last week, and we’re keen to get Jin-woo on the pitch at some point too.

Everyone has a role to play, and we want to bring the group together as quickly as possible. Performances and results like this certainly help that process.”