Gary Rowett won his first game in charge of Oxford United with a 3-2 win over Cardiff City this afternoon to lift themselves out of the bottom three.

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,

Follow live coverage as Oxford United face Cardiff City in the Championship today. An increasingly competitive second tier in English football remains an intense and exciting competition, with the prize of a place in the Premier League on offer at the end of the season.

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.

In all competitions, the last meeting between Oxford United and Cardiff City was in August 2011 in a League Cup tie, with the Bluebirds winning 3-1. Oxford have won their last three home league games on Boxing Day since losing 1-0 to Southend United back in 2018.

Here is your team news ahead of our Sky Bet Championship clash against Oxford United this afternoon. There are two changes from last time out, with Callum O'Dowda and Rubin Colwill stepping in to the starting lineup. Cardiff City: Alnwick (C), Rinomhota, Chambers, Goutas, Bagan, O'Dowda, Siopis, Robertson, Willock, Colwill, Méïté.

The pick of the stats as Oxford United take on Cardiff City in the Championship on Boxing Day.

Follow live coverage as Oxford United face Cardiff City in the Championship today. An increasingly competitive second tier in English football remains an intense and exciting competition, with the prize of a place in the Premier League on offer at the end of the season.

City created the first clear-cut opportunity of the match on the 15 minute mark, as Chris Willock struck on goal from the edge of the area. His deflected shot met the crossbar and landed at the feet of Yakou Méïté, though his own effort was saved by the outstretched glove of Jamie Cumming.