OXFORD United were watched by the second biggest crowd in the English Football League (EFL) on the opening weekend of the season.

Pride Park welcomed 31,053 fans for Derby County’s 1-0 win over the U’s, including 3,147 away supporters.

It was the biggest crowd in Sky Bet League One last weekend and the second highest in the EFL, with Sunderland’s clash with Coventry City in the Sky Bet Championship leading the way on 40,851.

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United were backed by their largest league away following for almost six years.

The last time the U’s took more fans to a League One game on the road was in September 2016, when 3,892 supporters travelled to MK Dons for a 0-0 draw.

It was United’s biggest away following in any competition since 3,710 went to Newcastle in the Emirates FA Cup fourth round in January 2020, with that tie also finishing goalless.

The aggregate attendance across the EFL was 449,870, the best since 2009 and 17 per cent up on last season.

A total of 148,878 supporters took in a League One game on the opening weekend, with the average gate of 12,407 11 per cent higher than 2021.