Oxford United began their first season in the second tier of English football for more than 25 years in style, as the U’s comfortably saw off Norwich City.

Mark Harris opened the scoring just before the half hour mark, before Cameron Brannagan slammed United into a 2-0 lead as the game approached the hour.

Those goals ensured the U’s, who have been written off as relegation favourites by many, started life in Sky Bet Championship with some swagger, claiming their first second tier win since May 1999.

Des Buckingham made just the one change to the side which lost against Palermo in the final game of pre-season, as Sam Long replaced Peter Kioso at right back.

That meant competitive debuts for summer signings Will Vaulks and Przemyslaw Placheta, with the latter facing his former side.

United came out fast and firing, with the U’s relentless in their press, penning the Canaries into their own defensive third in what was the first Kassam Stadium meeting between the two sides.

After a couple of positive openings without carving out an opportunity, United had the first sniff of goal with 11 minutes on the clock.

Brannagan won the ball with a brilliant tackle, and played it on to Harris, who found Placheta with a clever reverse ball.

The Poland international managed to get a shot away from a tight angle, but Angus Gunn denied him at the near post.

A Slip, A Goal, and a Lead

A mix-up at the back led to a few hearts in mouths, as Long looked for Jamie Cumming with a headed back pass, but the ball didn’t find the goalkeeper, and the U’s were fortunate to escape with just the concession of a corner.

After 20 minutes, a Hollywood pass out from Brannagan to Tyler Goodrham on the right led to the latter twisting and turning his way inside the penalty area, before winning a corner. Elliott Moore headed over the set piece, from Vaulks’ outswinger.

At the other end, Christian Fassnacht headed off target at the back post.

That was minutes before the game’s opening goal.

Ciaron Brown sent a long ball down the left channel, and a slip from Canaries captain Grant Hanley allowed Harris to get in on goal, and although his effort wasn’t a clean one, it managed to beat Gunn, who was unable to keep the ball out.

Oxford's Pressure Continues

Five minutes after taking the lead, a decent opportunity was presented to United when a sloppy ball out from Gunn was sent straight to Vaulks, whose shot from 30 yards towards the opening goal was sent just wide.

Vaulks then had a go with a stinging strike from range, which Gunn had to push away to safety.

The U’s kept coming, and Harris got his positioning slightly wrong when he headed over from Long’s brilliant cross.

Borja Sainz sent a first-time strike wide at the back post, before Josh Sargent demonstrated the visitors’ frustrations when he was booked for an aerial challenge on Joe Bennett.

Second Half Resurgence

Johannes Hoff Thorup made a switch at the break, introducing Amankwah Forson for Liam Gibbs in midfield.

United struck the crossbar seven minutes into the second period, when a Vaulks corner was cleared as far as Brannagan on the edge of the box.

The midfielder’s strike deflected off a Norwich player and looped over Gunn, hitting the crossbar and falling to Long, who sent a header on target, only for a Canaries man to clear the ball away from danger.

Six minutes later, the U’s was doubled anyway.

A patient move led to Long escaping down the right-hand side, and his brilliant low cross picked out Brannagan free on the edge of the area, with the midfielder smashing a sensational first-time strike into Gunn’s top left corner.

A Comfortable Win

Buckingham’s first change saw the hugely impressive Placheta replaced by another debutant, Idris El Mizouni, after 73 minutes.

Bennett then made a heroic block to charge in the way of a Canaries effort, before Jacob Sorensen headed wide from the resulting corner.

United though were able to see out the game professionally against a team which finished in the Championship play-offs last season, and even threatened on the counter-attack when El Mizouni slid in at the back post and stabbed wide from Greg Leigh’s teasing delivery.

Oxford United (4-3-3): Cumming; Long, Moore, Brown, Bennett; Rodrigues (Leigh 86), Vaulks, Brannagan; Goodrham, Harris (O’Donkor 90+3), Placheta (El Mizouni 73).

Unused subs: Ingram, Thorniley, Kioso, McEachran, Sibley, Ebiowei.

Booked: Rodrigues.

Norwich City (4-3-3): Gunn; Stacey, Hanley (Sorensen 61), Duffy, Doyle; Nunez (Kamara 76), McLean, Gibbs (Forson 46); Fassnacht (Idah 61), Sargent, Sainz (Forsyth 90).

Unused subs: Long, Fisher, Hills, Forsyth, Myles.

Booked: Sargent, Forson, Sorensen.

Referee: Andrew Kitchen (County Durham)

Attendance: 11,333 (TBC visitors).

A convincing victory for Oxford United, setting the tone for a potentially exciting season ahead. While Norwich City will be disappointed with the result, they still have a long way to go in the season. The U's will look to build on this victory as they continue their journey in the Championship.

A New Era of U's Football

The U’s have proven they are more than just a team ready to fight relegation. This victory against a team that just narrowly missed out on promotion is a testament to the progress made by the club and the talent within the squad. It’s a promising start for Oxford United, and the fans can be hopeful of a successful season in the Championship.