The Hawthorns

Saturday 22nd February 2025 - 15:00
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Oxford
Key Events

Match Pack - Oxford United (H)

West Bromwich Albion welcome Oxford United to The Hawthorns for the first time in a league game since March 1999 on Saturday afternoon (ko 3pm).

The Baggies earned a point in their last match, drawing 1-1 down at The Den against Millwall.

The U's were beaten 2-0 at home by Portsmouth, meaning they'll arrive in the West Midlands hoping to put an end to their five-game winless run. 

A last-gasp Dane Scarlett goal secured a point for Oxford in the reverse fixture at the Kassam Stadium in October.

Mikey Johnston in action against Oxford in the home kit in October 2024
Mikey Johnston in action against Oxford United in October

Follow the action LIVE

Supporters can listen to live audio commentary of Albion's clash with Oxford United on Saturday afternoon.

Audio passes are available to purchase here.

Gez Mulholland and former Baggie Andy Johnson will provide live commentary, with coverage starting at 2.50pm.

Details for video streaming on WBA TV will be available here from Friday morning.

Supporters are kindly asked to direct any questions or complaints about WBA TV or WBA Radio to wbatvsupport@streamamg.com.

The club are unable to answer queries about WBA TV or WBA Radio sent to fans@wbafc.co.uk or myalbion@wbafc.co.uk.

Regular updates will also be posted across the club's social media channels throughout the day.

WBA Matchday

The visitors

Oxford United have given themselves a wonderful chance of retaining their Sky Bet Championship status having been below the second tier of English football for the previous 25 years. 

Saturday's guests are sat on 38 points from their 33 matches played, but will be keen to halt a run of five without victory to avoid being dragged back into the relegation mix.

Following the appointment of well-versed boss Gary Rowett in December, the U's saw a sharp upturn in form, earning victories over Cardiff City, Plymouth Argyle and Millwall within his first five games in charge.

But their recent run has left more to be desired, managing a return of three points from their last five fixtures - including a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Portsmouth in their last outing.

That run leaves them 16th in the table, nine points clear of the bottom three and 10 points behind Albion. Rowett and his players will be hoping to improve upon that this weekend when they make the trip to B71.

Gary Rowett, Oxford United boss.
U's boss Gary Rowett

One from the history books

Albion beat Oxford United 7-6 on penalties in the second round of the League Cup in 2014 after drawing 1-1 in normal time at The Hawthorns.

The Baggies were handed the lead when Johnny Mullins put into his own net, before a late goal from Danny Hylton forced extra time, which ended goalless.

Penalties followed, with Jason Davidson firing home the vital spot kick in sudden death to secure Albion passage into the third round.

The last five at The Hawthorns

Albion 1-1 Oxford United (Albion won 7-6 on pens)

August 2014, Capital One Cup

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Albion 2-0 Oxford United

March 1999, Division One

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Albion 1-2 Oxford United

October 1997, Division One

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Albion 3-3 Oxford United

December 1996, Division One

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Albion 3-1 Oxford United

August 1993, Division One

Youssouf Mulumbu in action against Oxford at The Hawthorns in 2014
Youssouf Mulumbu in action for Albion against Oxford in October in 2014

The stats

Each of the fixtures between Albion and Oxford this Millenia so far have ended with a 1-1 scoreline after 90 minutes. The sides have faced off twice in that time, with the last fixture coming earlier this campaign when Karlan Grant's strike was cancelled out by Dane Scarlett's added-time header.

This fixture will be the 25th meeting of the sides, with the Baggies holding the edge on the head-to-head record. Albion have managed 12 wins and seven draws against the U's. Oxford, themselves, have only managed five wins over their Black Country opponents.

Four of those five wins came in a spell of less than two years. United claimed victory in four consecutive fixtures between March 1997 and October 1998 when both sides were battling in Division One.

Ahead of that fruitful run for this weekend's visitors, they'd only managed one victory in the previous 22 years - that being a 1-0 win in April 1974. The Baggies went on to register a result in each of the last 15 meetings between the teams following that game.

Alex Mowatt in action against Oxford United

The ticket details

The Ticket Exchange is now open for Albion's Sky Bet Championship match against Oxford United.

Only a very limited number of seats remain available - but supporters can now purchase from the Ticket Exchange.

The Exchange allows season ticket holders to list their seat for resale, increasing the opportunity for fans to be at games, while reducing the number of empty seats in B71. 

Season ticket holders will receive a credit, equivalent to the pro-rata cost of their match ticket - minus a £1 selling fee - when their seat is sold.

Season ticket holders can list their seat for resale below

Click Here to List Seats for Resale via the Ticket Exchange

Supporters can buy a listed ticket below

Click Here to Purchase Seats from the Ticket Exchange

Donate your ticket to The Albion Foundation

Baggies fans can also donate their match tickets to The Albion Foundation by clicking on the button below and completing a form.

The ticket will be gifted to underprivileged beneficiaries who would otherwise be unable to attend.

Click Here to donate your ticket to The Albion Foundation

Alternatively, a small number of tickets remain available online, in-person from the East Stand Ticket Office or by calling 0121 227 2227.

Click here for hospitality packages

A ticket graphic displaying information for Albion's game against Oxford

For the fans

Supporters of both West Bromwich Albion and Oxford United with a valid match ticket can enter the Fan Zone free of charge from 12pm onwards on Saturday. 

A wide range of entertainment will be on offer including opportunities to grab the perfect selfie with both Baggie Bird and Boilerman, inflatable games put on by the Albion Foundation and live coverage of Sunderland v Hull City (from 12.30pm) in one of the early kick-offs in the Sky Bet Championship. 

This week's live music, meanwhile, will be provided by Tom from West Brom.

In addition, fans can take advantage of plenty of food and drink options, so head on down and soak up the pre-match atmosphere!

The club shop will be open from 9am until kick-off, before reopening after the final whistle for a further half-an-hour. 

Albion fans.

An image of Alex Mowatt celebrating his goal against Oxford

Albion returned to winning ways by beating Oxford United 2-0 at The Hawthorns on Saturday afternoon.

Alex Mowatt’s first-half finish and a very late, dramatic John Swift goal secured all three Sky Bet Championship points for the Baggies.

The result lifts them back up to fifth in the league table. They face an away game against Leeds United next weekend.

An image of Albion in a huddle before they play Oxford

Tony Mowbray made four changes from the draw with Millwall, bringing Mowatt, Isaac Price, Mikey Johnston and Tom Fellows into the XI.

And two of those players were involved when his team made a blistering start in the Black Country sunshine - Price superbly feeding Mowatt to score his sixth this season inside the opening 10 minutes.

An image of Alex Mowatt celebrating his goal against Oxford with his teammates

The hosts then relentlessly pushed for a second. Among other chances, Adam Armstrong hit one over, Jayson Molumby saw a header saved and Johnston had a strike bravely blocked during a particularly dominant spell - yet United kept them at bay.

There was another opportunity before the break as Armstrong met a sweet volley just outside the area, but Oxford’s goalkeeper Jamie Cumming pushed it away. So, despite the Baggies’ 13 shots to none, the game remained only 1-0 come half-time.

An image of Mikey Johnston surrounded by Oxford players

The U’s attempted a rare effort on goal following the interval - Przemyslaw Platcheta smashing high and wide - however Albion soon resumed control.

Armstrong and Price both curled free-kicks off target before Mowatt went close to grabbing his brace, Jamie Cumming having to acrobatically save his long-ranger.

Boss Mowbray introduced Swift, Grady Diangana and Will Lankshear for the final stages - and Tammer Bany made his debut.

Oxford put the Baggies under pressure in 10 minutes of stoppage time, and it was their ‘keeper coming up for a corner which led to Albion’s second. Swift was the man to break forward and tap home to the empty net, sparking relief and celebration around The Hawthorns.

Albion: Wildsmith; Furlong, Ajayi (Holgate 41), Heggem, Styles; Molumby, Mowatt; Fellows (Diangana 77), Price (Swift 77), Johnston (Bany 90); Armstrong (Lankshear 77).

Substitutes: Griffiths, Diakite, Cole, Dike.

Attendance: 25,951 (2,525).