Five factors that have turned Oxford United’s season around

Following defeat to Swindon in the A420 derby at the end of November, Oxford United found themselves 19^thin League One and only above the relegation zone on goal difference. Summer transfer departures, injuries and the disappointment of losing out in last season’s play-off final looked set to make this season an underwhelming one.

Draws in their next two fixtures saw them fall into the bottom four, and the U’s appeared to have a genuine fight on their hands to survive in the third tier.

Fast forward two months and the mood around the club has changed to an almost unimaginable extent. Karl Robinson’s side have won a record-breaking nine games in a row across all competitions, moving them to within striking distance of the top six in League One and just one win away from Wembley thanks to their victory over Wimbledon in their Papa John’s Trophy quarter-final on Tuesday.

So what have been the secrets to the upturn in their fortunes?

Trusting in Jack Stevens

Oxford suffered a defeat to local rivals Swindon for the first time since 2001 after long time first-choice goalkeeper Simon Eastwood gifted Tyler Smith an injury-time winner at the Kassam Stadium.

Eastwood has performed consistently well since arriving from Blackburn in the summer of 2016, but his manager felt the mistake signalled the right moment to give academy graduate Jack Stevens his chance between the sticks.

23-year-old Stevens had made just two league appearances for the U’s before starting the 0-0 draw against Ipswich in the first week of December, but he has looked every bit the seasoned veteran during the recent unbeaten run. He has kept six clean sheets in his ten League One appearances so far, whilst also putting in a man-of-the-match display in the Boxing Day league win over Wimbledon, vindicating what Robinson called ‘probably the most difficult decision’ of his career in demoting Eastwood.

Robinson was also full of praise for his young ‘keeper following that win: “He (Stevens) works hard, he looks after himself off the pitch. His personality and the way he is as as a person, that keeps you in the building. When you have the talent that he has it’s just a case of timing and when your chance will come along.”

Whilst it is Oxford’s attack that has caught the eye in recent weeks, the reliable presence of Stevens in goal has improved their defensive record massively. In the 13 league games before the change of goalkeeper 23 goals were conceded, in Stevens ten appearances he has conceded just seven times.

Allowing flying full backs to flourish

Attacking full backs have become increasingly common in modern football, but no side in League One is benefitting as much from them as Oxford are from Josh Ruffels and Sam Long.

Last season, left back Ruffels contributed three goals and three assists whilst also averaging 1.1 key passes per game – the only defender to play more than 20 games and average more was Wycombe’s Joe Jacobsen. This season, Ruffels already has four goals and three assists – all of which have come in the recent winning run. Whilst the number of key passes he is playing is down, it has been made up for by a remarkable increase in productivity from academy graduate Sam Long on the right of the defence.

Last season Long often found himself on the bench as both Chris Cadden and Anthony Forde were regularly preferred at right-back. When he did play, he was more of a steady presence than a consistent attacking threat, but the recent up-turn in form has seen him transform into a rampaging scorer and provider of goals. He has two goals and four assists already, including a remarkable goal that he started and finished himself against Plymouth over the festive period.

“When you’re playing well, full backs contribute,” said Robinson following the midweek win in the Papa John’s Trophy, in which Ruffels picked up another assist. “When you’re playing not so great, you’re asking them to stay in lines and be flat in your (defensive) four with the midfield players sitting in front. Because you’re trying to get a draw, they don’t get close enough to effect the game. When we’re playing well, like we are at the moment, they’re obviously a really important facet of our football club.”

Whilst the former Charlton and MK Dons boss clearly sees the increased output of Ruffels and Long as a product of the team’s better performances of late rather than a cause of them, there can be no doubts that the pair are causing havoc for opposition defences at the moment.

Using the squad

Robinson has had the luxury of being able to rotate his squad regularly in both the league and the Papa John’s Trophy. This has allowed him to keep key men fresh throughout the packed fixture list and has also meant those not involved in league fixtures have been able to keep sharp through appearances in the trophy.

Despite winning nine games in a row, the U’s boss has not named the same starting eleven from one match to the next.

Mark Sykes, Jamie Hanson and Rob Hall have all found themselves left out of match-day squads at times despite being first team regulars earlier in their time at the Kassam, showing just how deep the current squad is. Sam Winnall, despite being a marquee signing in the summer, has also struggled for game time due to a combination of injury and the form of fellow striker Matty Taylor, but the Papa John’s Trophy has allowed him to work his way back to fitness and provided an opportunity for him to get off the mark for the Yellows in the win over Wimbledon.

This situation has only been enhanced during the January transfer window, as the arrivals of Joe Grayson, Elliott Lee and Brandon Barker should provide cover in lighter areas of the squad and also increase the quality of attacking options on offer to Robinson.

Keeping the Kassam pitch in good condition

The winter months almost always have a damaging effect on pitches in the EFL. Recent weeks have seen a number of games in League One and Two postponed due to either snow or water-logged pitches – including the U’s trip to Northampton a few weeks ago.

A further issue has been the overuse of playing surfaces due to the packed fixture list as a result of the late start to the season. Lots of clubs are now playing on pitches that have cut up or have large patches without grass, making it hard to play the sort of passing football Oxford have thrived on under Robinson.

Therefore, the work of the ground staff at the Kassam to ensure the pitch has remained in pristine condition throughout the winter has been a great help. Alex Gorrin’s passing has remained crisp and accurate thanks to a lack of bobbles, Cameron Brannagan has been gliding across the luscious turf since his return from an eye infection, and Matty Taylor has had no problems keeping his footing during his recent goal-scoring form.

Oxford have been a side that like to have a lot of the ball since Robinson was appointed manager in March 2018. Their ability to play out from the back was one of the key features of their success last season, and thanks to the good condition of the surface over recent weeks, it has once again played a part in their great run of form.

Taking Covid-19 seriously

Covid-19 is clearly being taken seriously by clubs across the EFL as they seek to ensure that the season can be completed, but the extra measures Oxford have taken has helped to ensure they’ve avoided an outbreak of the virus among the squad. A number of their League One rivals have seen games postponed due to the number of positive cases among their players and staff.

One such precaution very nearly caused them a headache earlier in the season when a bizarre bus incident forced the squad to make their way to a game at Accrington in cars. The buses that the club rent for away fixtures release an alcohol-based spray for sanitation purposes when they are parked and they also have an anti-drink driving system for safety reasons. Unfortunately, whilst the players and staff were in a hotel preparing for the game at the Wham Stadium, the spray interfered with the safety system and meant the buses would not start. Even though the extra precautions taken by the club on that occasion accidentally caused some issues, they have paid off in the long-term.

On a more serious note, the swift way in which two youth team players who allegedly broke lockdown rules by attending a New Year’s Eve party were suspended was a clear indication that no one at the club is being allowed to take the current health situation lightly.

This weekend’s trip to face a Doncaster Rovers side who currently sit third in League One will be the toughest test of the unbeaten run yet, but everything suggests that Oxford are in for a successful second half of the season.

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