New Oxford manager Gary Rowett enjoyed a winning start to his reign with a 3-2 victory over fellow Championship strugglers Cardiff. Former Cardiff academy forward Mark Harris, centre-half Ciaran Brown and winger Przemyslaw Placheta scored Oxford’s goals at the Kassam Stadium as they raced into a three-goal lead on their way to registering a first victory in eight games.

A 3-2 victory over Cardiff City on Boxing Day earned United a first three points since early November and the perfect start for the new Head Coach. Goals from Mark Harris, Ciaron Brown and a wonder strike from Przemyslaw Placheta got the new era off to a winning start and overall, Rowett was pleased with what he saw.

GARY Rowett was pleased with the number of positives he saw from his first game in the Oxford United dugout. The U’s soared into a 3-0 lead via goals from Mark Harris, Ciaron Brown and Przemyslaw Placheta, but made it a nervy ending at Grenoble Road through the concession of two goals in the closing stages against Cardiff City.

Omer Riza has described Cardiff City's meeting with fellow strugglers Oxford United as a game his side "need to win". Cardiff will attempt to end an eight-game sequence without victory when they go to the Kassam Stadium for a meeting of two sides in the Championship relegation zone on Thursday,