Oxford United’s first visit to the King Power Stadium ended in the same way as their last visit to Filbert Street, in victory for the Mighty Yellows against Leicester City.

A first win under Matt Bloomfield ensured United’s third away win of the season, surpassing last season’s total, and although still second from bottom, brings the team to just three points from safety. It was Marti Cifuentes last game as Leicester boss, the Spaniard receiving his P45 the following day.

And it was a fully deserved win and should have been by a greater margin, had Oxford not had a Myles Peart-Harris header from a corner harshly ruled out for a foul by Mark Harris on City keeper Jakub Stolarczyk in the first half.

The U’s were already 1-0 up by that stage. An early Jordan Ayew free kick delivered straight into the arms of Jamie Cumming didn’t set the tone of what was to follow, as just three minutes later Oxford were in front.

A poor Stolarczyk clearance gave United a throw on the right. With no Will Vaulks on the pitch, it fell to Peart-Harris to deliver it long into the box, where Ciaron Brown’s flick fell nicely for Sam Long to prod the ball home. I believe it’s the first goal from a long throw this season, although happy to be corrected.

The anticipated Leicester reaction failed to materialise. In fact, although City dominated possession they didn’t really do anything with it. In the first half they produced a couple of wayward shots, but Oxford defended everything from the front, with Harris placing himself between the home side’s defence and Hamza Choudhury, preventing any clear route out of their own half.

It was on the wings where Leicester mainly threatened, but with Jack Currie and Brodie Spencer both doing well, there was no real danger. On the rare occasions that the wingers did get past their men, Long and Brown were able to snuff out any crosses. And with Ben Davies making a rare start, the United rearguard was particularly strong.

United started the second half strongly, pegging Leicester back and creating some good chances. Peart-Harris could have doubled the lead shortly after the restart but he scuffed his shot wide. No worries, With Leicester committing men forward, Oxford found the second goal they deserved, and it came from a home corner.

The ball was cleared to the edge of the area where a City shot was blocked. Brian De Keersmaecker, on as a substitute for Stan Mills, found Peart-Harris who returned the ball. BDK’s first-time pass released Harris, who started his run in the Oxford half, so not offside. He raced clear, took the ball around Stolarczyk and finished coolly. It was a goal reminiscent of Harris at his best in the League One promotion season and was a just reward for the United striker, who had arguably his best game for the club since that play-off final against Bolton.

It was a shame that Oxford couldn’t keep their third successive clean sheet under Matt Bloomfield, denied by an Abdul Fatawu strike six minutes from time. However, even during the added seven minutes, Leicester never looked like equalising and Oxford defended their lines well and kept the ball upfield. On the rare occasions City did get the ball in the United area, Cumming caught or punched everything.

The final whistle was greeted with great scenes from the huge travelling support, who had backed the side non-stop throughout and deserved to be rewarded. For the home side, there were boos and chants against the board and manager, and his dismissal on Sunday came as little surprise, albeit only masking the cracks of incompetent owners. Following a succession of failed managerial appointments, there can be little optimism among Foxes fans that they’ll get the next one right, although Gary Rowett is available…

On a personal note, this was the first time I’d been back to Leicester (aside from various footy matches) since I left the city of my birth aged four, so I took the opportunity to have a mooch around the city. I ate lunch at a superb Indian restaurant (Herb in Granby Street) in a city full of great choices before making my way to the Clock Tower and thence to the Richard III museum.

Lunch

I didn’t have enough time to look around so instead visited the cathedral, where the remains of said monarch were laid to rest following the discovery of his body under a car park, where the museum now rests.

Dicky Three’s tomb

A short walk to the Jewry Wall – apparently the largest free-standing remains of a Roman wall in the country – and then a pleasant walk along the River Soar, complete with a plethora of swans, to the Soar Point sports bar. From there is was just a further ten minutes on foot to the King Power Stadium, walking past the side of Leicester’s former Filbert Street ground en route.

Jewry Wall

The other side of a car park lay the rubble of the main stand, from where I watched my first-ever football match at the tender age of three (Leicester 0 Burnley 0). It was kind of sad to see the ruins but with the King Power just next door it was an indication of the club’s ambition when it was opened in 2002.

It is interesting to reflect that ten years ago, Leicester City were on their way to their first Premier League title, while the U’s were fighting to promotion from League Two. Now the teams are performing as equals in the second tier, and with four points from the two games, it would seem that United are the better side.

Just to cap things off, following the U18s’ 2-1 victory over Colchester on Thursday to set up an FA Youth Cup fifth round tie at home to Manchester United, with the women beating Middlesbrough the previous weekend to set up a Women’s FA Cup fifth round tie at home to Charlton Athletic, the women then beat Cheltenham Town 2-0 on Sunday for their seventh successive win. Love football, me.

UTFO!

Games without a penalty: 81