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Shea Charles' third goal of the season helped Southampton move up to fifth in the Championship Shea Charles scored a stunning goal to help Southampton to victory against Oxford United and keep them inside the Championship's top six. Saints took an early lead when Cyle Larin converted a low Tom Fellows cross from close range for the opener. Minutes later Charles struck from around 30 yards, curling a stunning effort from distance into the top corner to make it two. After defeat, Oxford drop down a place to 23rd in the table but remain only one point behind fourth-bottom Portsmouth. Championship: Southampton, WBA & Wrexham all win, QPR hit six past Portsmouth Southampton struck first when Taylor Harwood-Bellis split the Oxford defence open with a pass that found Fellows dashing down the right-hand side. After controlling possession, the winger then drilled a pass across the box for Larin who stretched for the ball and then guided home for his third Championship goal of the season since arriving on loan in January. Eckert's side then doubled their lead in the 13th minute as a short corner routine found its way to Charles who curled a right-foot effiort into the top corner of the net from outside of the box, a brilliant effort. Oxford had penalty shouts waved away early in the second half when Flynn Downes went shoulder-to-shoulder with Stan Mills and knocked him over in the box, but referee Ben Toner was unconvinced. The U's had an encouraging start to the second period with chances for Cameron Brannagan and Will Lankshear well blocked by the Southampton defence. Tottenham loanee Lankshear then had a great chance to get Oxford back into the game as he intercepted the ball and ran through on goal, but his effort was wide of the target. Fellows struck the crossbar late on with an effort from a narrow angle as his wait for a first goal since arriving in the summer from West Bromwich Albion goes on, despite registering five assists. This video can not be played Tonda Eckert: 'It was a big result for us' Southampton boss Tonda Eckert told BBC Radio Solent: "We've had a couple of very tough away games and we knew that these two games at home now gave us a chance to finish off not just this week but a block of four months. "We've been going straight since November and we just knew that we wanted to finish strong on that block. "It was a big one for us today going two up, but then you need to keep the attention high because you're still on the ball. "It's never so easy if rhythm of the game then slows down, but obviously then when the spaces are up on a counter you need to be ready to defend them. "I think we've done this quite well over big spells, obviously there's always a couple of moments that we can improve on, but overall yes it's another clean sheet and I'm so happy about today and ready for a couple of days off. " This video can not be played Wasn't At The Game 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 21st March 2026 at 18: 44 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Tonda Eckert Formation: 4 - 1 - 4 - 1 Manager: Matt Bloomfield Formation: 5 - 4 - 1 Manager: Tonda Eckert Formation: 4 - 1 - 4 - 1 Manager: Matt Bloomfield Formation: 5 - 4 - 1 Championship All competitions All competitions All competitions This will be the first time Southampton have hosted Oxford in a league match since November 1987, in a 3-0 home victory for Chris Nicholl’s side in the top-flight. After winning 2-1 in this season’s reverse fixture (Boxing Day 2025), Oxford could achieve the league double over Southampton for the first time ever. Southampton are unbeaten in their last five league games on a Saturday, winning four of them (D1); as many victories as they had in their previous 25 (W4 D7 L14). Oxford are unbeaten in their three away league games on a Saturday under Matt Bloomfield (W1 D2), after losing five of their first six (W1) in the Championship this season. Finn Azaz has been directly involved in four goals in three Championship games against Oxford, with all four of those coming in a single game (2 goals, 2 assists in a 6-2 win for Middlesbrough in November 2024). Match ends, Southampton 2, Oxford United 0. Second Half ends, Southampton 2, Oxford United 0. Attempt missed. Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Mark Harris. Attempt missed. Nicholas Oyekunle (Southampton) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Samuel Edozie. Substitution, Southampton. Nicholas Oyekunle replaces Finn Azaz. Substitution, Southampton. Joshua Quarshie replaces Ryan Manning. Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time. Michal Helik (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Finn Azaz (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Michal Helik (Oxford United). Foul by Ross Stewart (Southampton). Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Substitution, Oxford United. Aidomo Emakhu replaces Stanley Mills. Foul by James Bree (Southampton). Jeon Jin-Woo (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Attempt saved. James Bree (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Jamie Cumming (Oxford United). Samuel Edozie (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Sam Long (Oxford United). Shea Charles (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Stanley Mills (Oxford United). Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.