The Championship table since Oxford United sacked Des Buckingham and appointed Gary Rowett | OneFootball

The U's have experienced a dramatic turnaround since making a change in the dugout in December

Oxford United fans must be struggling to believe their luck right now, with the U’s one of the most in-form teams in the Championship following the arrival of Gary Rowett as boss.

The U’s were looking out of sorts in the run-up to Christmas under former boss Des Buckingham, with just one win in 16 league games seeing them slip towards the bottom of the table, having flown out the blocks at the start of the campaign with three wins in their first five matches upon their return to the second tier.

The feeling around the Kassam Stadium when local lad Buckingham was shown the door seemed to be one of regret, with no hard feelings towards their former boss, despite their poor form across the board.

But Rowett’s arrival has seen them hit new heights in recent weeks, with a 3-2 victory over Luton Town on Tuesday night the latest eye-catching result to leave United closer to the play-off positions than the relegation.

Gary Rowett turns Oxford United fortunes around since replacing Des Buckingham

It looked for all the world that Oxford were destined to slide towards a relegation battle as the festive period loomed large, before what has turned out to be a masterstroke in appointing Rowett swiftly turned their fortunes around.

While a 4-0 defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road the day after his appointment can all but be disregarded, the former Birmingham City boss earned a first victory in his first home match as U’s boss, as Cardiff City were beaten 3-2 on Boxing Day.

Three goals before the hour mark that day put the hosts three goals to the good, before two late goals for the Bluebirds made things nervy, before a more comfortable 2-0 win over Plymouth Argyle followed just three days later.

Just like that, momentum was turned around for the Yellows, and as 2025 got underway, it was new year, new Oxford, with a first away of the season earned against one of Rowett’s former sides, as a 1-0 win over Millwall made it three wins on the bounce.

Successive draws on the road against Preston North End and Plymouth saw their unbeaten run remain unbeaten, before the three-sided fortress that is the Kassam made all the difference once again, with Blackburn Rovers and Luton Town both seen off within the past week.

The Championship league table since Oxford United appointed Gary Rowett

In total, Oxford have won five, drawn two and lost just the once since Rowett was appointed, seeing them pick up a total of 17 points from his eight games in charge, which is akin to the form of teams chasing automatic promotion from the second tier.

In fact, no other side has amassed more points since December 19 when the change was made at the Kassam Stadium, with league leaders Leeds United accruing the same amount, albeit from one game less.

Queens Park Rangers are the next most in-form side in the second tier right now, with Marti Cifuentes’ side winning five, drawing one and losing one of their seven league matches in that time, with 16 more points on the board.

Burnley (15), Sunderland (14) and Sheffield United (13) are next on the list, with the fact Oxford are outperforming the promotion-chasing trio testament to just what a turnaround Rowett has overseen in his new role.

Compare that to the bottom of the form table, and it will be no surprise to see Derby County, Luton Town and Plymouth Argyle right at the bottom of the pile, with the Rams winning just one of their last seven in the league, while the Pilgrims have picked up four draws, but are without a win in their last 14.

Matt Bloomfield’s Hatters also have a single win and a single draw since the weekend before Christmas, with a string of successful results putting plenty of daylight between the U’s and the relegation places, with aspirations of a top-half finish far from absurd after their managerial change.