Stoke City Vs Oxford Utd: Rak-Sakyi header secures 2-1 victory and deepens Oxford’s plight
In stoke city vs oxford utd at the Bet365 Stadium on Wednesday night, Stoke City beat Oxford United 2-1 in a match that eased growing pressure on the Potters and left the U’s further from safety. The result combined late second-half drama with a string of contextual issues for both clubs: an attendance of 20, 153 watched a game that also highlighted injury lists, recent form swings and a rare head-to-head history.
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi headline moments
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi supplied the decisive intervention in the second half with a headed finish from a Sorba Thomas cross; whether that came in the 56th minute or the 57th minute is unclear in the provided context. The 23-year-old, on loan from Crystal Palace and a former Charlton and Sheffield United forward who began the season in Turkey, scored what was described as his first Stoke City goal and ended Stoke’s seven-match winless league run. The strike restored the hosts’ lead and completed a league double over Oxford.
Lamine Cisse and Ciaron Brown changed the script
Lamine Cisse opened the scoring for Stoke after a rapid move in the 37th minute, converting from around 18–20 yards in a play that followed a Tomas Rigo and Million Manhoef combination. Sky coverage noted it was Cisse’s maiden league goal for the Potters at his 24th attempt. Oxford pegged Stoke back on the stroke of half-time when Will Vaulks fed Stanley Mills; Mills headed across and Ciaron Brown volleyed home from roughly eight yards. Early in the second half Will Lankshear came close for Oxford when he backheeled a powerful Cameron Brannagan free-kick against the crossbar.
Bet365 Stadium: key moments and crowd
The match was played at the Bet365 Stadium on Wednesday 25 February, 8: 00pm, before 20, 153 spectators. Tommy Simkin was involved in several of the opening passages: a long 60-yard kick upfield and a 12th-minute pass picked out Million Manhoef, whose involvement set up early chances for Rak-Sakyi and others. Jamie Cumming pulled off multiple saves for Oxford, denying a low Rak-Sakyi effort and keeping out other Stoke attempts in the opening quarter.
Mark Robins on performance, structure and set-pieces
Manager Mark Robins highlighted balance and the challenge of breaking down mid- or low-block opponents, praising supporters for their role in the result while expressing disappointment at set-piece defending that allowed Oxford back into the game. The Stoke manager typically deploys a 4-2-3-1 shape emphasising organisation, ball retention and defensive compactness, a style that has been strained by numerous absences this year.
Oxford United fitness concerns and squad absences
Matt Bloomfield went into the fixture with selection questions: Jamie McDonnell was forced off at Middlesbrough with an ankle injury and was a doubt for this match, as was Brodie Spencer. Oxford also listed Tyler Goodrham, Hidde ter Avest and Greg Leigh as unavailable. The club’s preview noted the team had recently picked up a point at Middlesbrough and travelled for this midweek fixture, with ticket sales ending at 10: 00am on the day and no sales available at the stadium.
Stoke’s injury toll, recent form and historical context
Stoke’s squad issues were detailed: first-choice goalkeeper Viktor Johansson has been sidelined since late December with a shoulder problem; attackers Sam Gallagher and Róbert Boženík have spent the majority of 2026 on the treatment table; Divin Mubama has missed most of the calendar year and was unlikely to return in time; Lewis Baker has not featured since the meeting with Coventry and was expected to remain unavailable. An extended unavailable list also named Viktor Johannson, Sam Gallagher, Robert Bozenik, Divin Mubama, Lewis Baker, Ato Ampah, Gavin Bazunu and Junior Tchamadeu. The club had been in the top four at the beginning of December after winning nine and losing six of their opening 18 games, but three months later sat 16th and seven points shy of the play-off positions. Injuries to up to nine regular starters since the start of 2026 were cited as a factor in Stoke scoring just four goals in their past seven Championship fixtures.
The match referenced a recent first meeting this season at the Kassam Stadium in early November, when Stoke won 3-0 with a brace from Lewis Baker and a goal from Steven N’Zonzi while the Potters were in strong form. The preview also outlined the rarity of recent encounters—three meetings in the last 25 years, including Stoke’s November victory, Oxford’s 1-0 win in September 2024 and a goalless draw at the Bet365 Stadium in January 2025—and recorded an overall tally of 22 meetings, with Oxford (the Yellows) having nine wins and seven draws.
The result left Stoke relieved of immediate pressure and seven points shy of the play-off places, while Oxford were described as six points adrift of safety and West Brom occupying 21st place in the table, underlining why the outcome matters to both clubs’ trajectories for the remainder of the campaign.
What makes this notable is the overlap of short-term match drama and longer-term squad strain: a single header altered momentum on the night, but an accumulation of injuries and a dip in scoring over seven games has reshaped expectations for Stoke, just as Oxford’s precarious position and player doubts continue to define their season.
