Stoke City Vs Oxford Utd — stoke city vs oxford utd: Rak-Sakyi header ends Potters' slump
stoke city vs oxford utd produced a 2-1 home victory for Stoke as Jesurun Rak-Sakyi restored the lead in the second half. The result eased pressure on the Potters while leaving Oxford deeper in trouble in the Championship.
Stoke hold off a fightback
Stoke took the lead through Lamine Cisse on 37 minutes after Million Manhoef played him in, Cisse converting sweetly past Jamie Cumming. Oxford levelled on the stroke of half-time when Will Vaulks chipped into the box to Stanley Mills, whose header found Ciaron Brown and Brown volleyed home from eight yards. Early in the second half Jesurun Rak-Sakyi restored Stoke's lead with a header from a left-wing cross by Sorba Thomas; one account places the finish in the 56th minute and another records it at 57 minutes. Rak-Sakyi's strike was his first Stoke City goal and came at the far post following Thomas's cross, which was Thomas's eighth assist of the campaign.
How the action opened up
Tommy Simkin released a 12th-minute pass through the middle for Million Manhoef, who squared to Rak-Sakyi; Rak-Sakyi fired a low shot at Jamie Cumming. Five minutes later Cumming denied Eric Bocat's low drive. Sorba Thomas tested his luck with a 20th-minute shot that flew wide, and Will Lankshear offered the visitors their first sight of goal in the 25th minute when his shot from the edge of the area was gathered by Simkin.
Stoke City Vs Oxford Utd: key moments
Before Cisse's opener a swift move saw Manhoef play in Cisse. After the equaliser Oxford went close to a second when Will Lankshear backheeled a powerful Cameron Brannagan free-kick against the Stoke crossbar on 53 minutes. Three minutes after that, Rak-Sakyi headed home from Thomas's cross. Eighteen minutes before the end Cisse could only watch as his looping attempt was cleared away by Will Vaulks.
Individual details and records
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, the 23-year-old Crystal Palace loanee who began the season in Turkey and who previously played for Charlton and Sheffield United, scored his first goal for Stoke. Lamine Cisse's goal was recorded as his maiden league goal for the Potters at the 24th attempt. Will Lankshear, described as a Spurs loanee, struck the woodwork for Oxford when the score was 1-1. Stoke celebrated a first home Championship success since December 13 and completed the league double over relegation-threatened Oxford.
Manager reaction and match assessment
Stoke City manager Mark Robins said: "I'm pleased with some of the performance and the result, immensely. I am pleased with the way the supporters stuck by us and helped us get that result over the line. When there is an opponent sat in front of you with a low block or a mid block then it is really difficult to break down. We knew we had to play in a certain way, and I thought we got the balance almost spot on. The only disappointment for me was the defending on the set-play and we allowed them back into the game when we should have been one, two or three up by that stage. "
Form, injuries and season context
Pre-match analysis dated 23 Feb 2026 13: 17, last updated 23 Feb 2026 17: 45, noted Stoke had been struggling for form: the Potters had rescued a point with an 89th-minute equaliser against Leicester City at the weekend, had begun the calendar year with three straight wins in all competitions, but had become winless in eight with four draws, defeats to teams below them and an exit from the FA Cup. That preview recorded that Saturday had been the first time Stoke had scored in a league game for three matches and their first time scoring more than once since their last Championship win at the start of January; both goals against Leicester came captain Ben Wilmot, a centre-back who had three goals all season. The preview also noted that seven points separated Stoke from sixth-placed Wrexham with 13 matches remaining.
The same pre-match assessment described Oxford's situation: managerial changes and inconsistency had left Matt Bloomfield's side fighting for survival, with the U's sitting 23rd after six wins, 11 draws and 16 defeats from 33 league outings. Oxford had kept clean sheets against top-of-the-table Coventry City and second-placed Middlesbrough but had failed to score in those fixtures. The preview also recorded that other than Sheffield Wednesday, who had been deducted 18 points and had their relegation confirmed, Oxford's attacking unit was the worst in the division.
On squad availability, the preview stated Stoke appeared to have no further injuries from their latest clash, but that first-choice goalkeeper Viktor Johansson remained sidelined with a shoulder injury and was yet to play in 2026; Tommy Simkin had resumed between the sticks and backup goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu remained unavailable.
Stoke had earlier beaten Oxford 3-0 at the Kassam Stadium back in November, and the midweek meeting at the bet365 Stadium was the second time the pair met this season.
stoke city vs oxford utd will be remembered for Rak-Sakyi's decisive header and a sequence of moments that left Stoke breathing easier and Oxford deeper in a fight for survival.
