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Oxford's Myles Peart-Harris gets the final touch for Birmingham's opening goal Birmingham ended Matt Bloomfield's unbeaten start at Oxford to continue their new year revival as they target the Championship play-offs. U's defender Myles Peart-Harris got the final touch to Paik Seung-Ho's free-kick for the first goal before Marvin Ducksch fired home to stretch the Blues' unbeaten run to six games. Ducksch's red-hot form mirrors his team's in January and the German striker has five goals in his last six games and eight in total for the season. Ambitious Birmingham have reportedly spent £15m so far in the winter transfer window, strengthening Chris Davies' squad, and they are now five points off the play-offs. They believe they can get in the mix for a top-six spot and are transformed since their 3-0 New Year's Day defeat at Watford. Oxford, meanwhile, have slipped five points below the safety line after Bloomfield's first loss in his fourth game as their new manager. The home side paraded new signing Christ Makosso at the Kassam Stadium before kick-off, the Congo defender having joined on loan from Luton for the rest of the season. The U's made a positive start as Matt Phillips and Peart-Harris went close, but they undid all their good early work when they conceded a soft goal to gift Birmingham the lead on 23 minutes. There was some questionable goalkeeping from Jamie Cummings as Paik's free-kick rebounded off Peart-Harris and into his own net. Birmingham should have doubled their lead when Jay Stansfield broke through but Ibrahim Osman could not apply the final touch to his pass, instead colliding with the post. The visitors made no mistake, though, on 66 minutes when debutant Carlos Vicente, who only joined from Alaves four days ago, flicked the ball into the path of Ducksch and he swept it into the corner from the edge of the box. They are next in action at home to Leicester City next Saturday, while Oxford have a chance to atone when they go to Sheffield United on Tuesday evening. Oxford manager Matt Bloomfield told BBC Radio Oxford: "I always try and speak as honestly as I can after games and last week we were worthy winners, but today it wasn't to be. "Our levels weren't quite at the level required to win the game, playing against incredibly good opposition, who've spent so much money on their squad. Our intensity needed to be at the top and we just didn't quite get there today. "For their second goal, we were actually in possession, we're breaking out, we gave the ball away and the next thing you know, it's in the back of our net. Two-nil put a bit of a pin in us because I felt we were starting to build a bit of momentum. "It's a deeply frustrating end, but we don't get too low. It's the first defeat, there's going to be a rollercoaster between now and the end of the season and we have to make sure that every day we come in ready to work and we keep moving forward. " Birmingham boss Chris Davies told BBC WM: "Obviously. I'm really pleased with the win, but I was thinking before the game that I wanted us to play well, I wanted us to have that level of control in the match. "I emphasised that during the week and I think you could see that today. There was a good calmness and a good patience to our game. I think we had a good balance to our possession and that gave us a level of control, which I think was massive in winning the match. "This calendar year we've looked more of a team. That's the first thing I've been emphasising to the players – you've got to be a team, you've got to work hard for each other and that gives you a chance of winning games in this league. "We've looked like that in the last few games. Away from home was the question mark, but we've gone and done that. Here again, another clean sheet and a couple of goals and that's really good for the confidence. " This video can not be played Davies: 'There was a calmness to our game today' After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 31st January 2026 at 17: 03 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Matt Bloomfield Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1 Manager: Chris Davies Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Matt Bloomfield Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1 Manager: Chris Davies Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Championship All competitions All competitions All competitions This will be the first time this century that Birmingham have faced Oxford away from home in the league, with the Blues winning 7-1 on their last trip there (December 1998, also in the second tier). After a 1-0 victory in this season’s reverse fixture, Birmingham will be looking to do the league double over Oxford for the first time since 1985-86 in the top-flight. Following their victory away at Leicester last time out, Oxford will be aiming for consecutive wins in the Championship for the first time since January 2025 (1-0 v Blackburn and 3-2 v Luton). Only bottom side Sheffield Wednesday (1307: 42) have trailed for more minutes than Birmingham (1045: 30) in the Championship this season. Brian De Keersmaecker has more than twice as many assists as any other Oxford player in the Championship this season (5); indeed, he has the most chances created (37) and big chances created (9) for the U’s in the competition this term. Match ends, Oxford United 0, Birmingham City 2. Second Half ends, Oxford United 0, Birmingham City 2. Foul by Phil Neumann (Birmingham City). Will Lankshear (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Jamie Cumming. Attempt saved. August Priske (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Jamie Cumming (Oxford United). Assisted by Phil Neumann. Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Jhon Solís. Attempt blocked. Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Przemyslaw Placheta. Attempt saved. Ole Romenij (Oxford United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by James Beadle (Birmingham City). Assisted by Myles Peart-Harris. Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time. Attempt saved. Ole Romenij (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by James Beadle (Birmingham City). Assisted by Will Lankshear. Substitution, Birmingham City. Scott Wright replaces Ibrahim Osman. Substitution, Birmingham City. Tommy Doyle replaces Marvin Ducksch. Foul by Ibrahim Osman (Birmingham City). Yunus Konak (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Paik Seung-Ho (Birmingham City). Yunus Konak (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Carlos Vicente. Foul by Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City). Ole Romenij (Oxford United) wins a free kick on the left wing. Copyright © 2026 BBC. 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