Oxford United look to make it three wins in a row as they face Gillingham at the Kassam Stadium

10 goals in two games has revitalised Oxford, who must take advantage of a favourable fixture against Gillingham to re-define their play-off credentials.

When Accrington Stanley left the Kassam on April 5th, Oxford United’s play-off chances looked dead and buried. In reality, Oxford were by no means cut adrift from the top six, but their scintillating form over the New Year had long been forgotten and many fans were deeming the U’s out of the play-off race.

The Accrington defeat was a sign that something had to change at the Kassam if Oxford were to maintain a claim for a top six spot.

Karl Robinson’s hands were tied – his side was trying and it simply wasn’t coming off. They faced Crewe the following Saturday – the first time, in what seemed like an age, that Robinson was able to select a fully fit squad (excluding season-long injuries) – and ultimately put on quite the show, thrashing the Railwaymen 6-0.

Oxford only built on this last Tuesday, notching up another four goals against Shrewsbury Town. Ten different players had scored 10 goals across the two fixtures, harking back to a time earlier this season when Oxford’s attack was winning the U’s more positive headlines than not.

The U’s now sit seventh, three points behind Portsmouth who occupy the last play-off spot. Danny Cowley’s side can only boast a slim goal difference margin, however, Oxford’s recent goal-scoring exploits may well be in the backs of the minds of those at Fratton Park.

Steve Evans’ side currently hold 10th place – the same spot in which they finished last season. Whether this campaign has been an improvement on the last is up for debate, but a win against Oxford would almost kill two birds with one stone.

Although unlikely based on the Yellows’ recent form, a win for the Gills could move them one place up to ninth. Finishing any higher after Saturday is near-on impossible, as eighth-placed Charlton are playing ninth-placed Ipswich, and Oxford are some twelve goals better off in terms of goal difference.

The Gills are only six points off the play-offs, but are very much outsiders. For them, therefore, Oxford followed by Peterborough probably aren’t the fixtures of choice at this stage of the season for a team with faint hopes of making the top six.

Given Oxford’s 10 goals scored and zero goals conceded record in the last two match weeks, Gillingham’s defence likely won’t be expecting an easy day to say the least.

Oxford has been here before – and it hasn’t ended well. Karl Robinson made a comment after the U’s win over Wigan Athletic in mid-February, remarking that ‘I get a bit frustrated when people say that we’re only beating teams that are below us. Well, if you beat the teams below you, you get promoted’. The sentiment was undeniably true, but in practice, that hasn’t quite worked out for Oxford in recent weeks.

Of the five matches Oxford have lost since the Wigan game, three have been against opposition who sat lower than them in the table at kick-off.

Perhaps something of an Achilles heel for the U’s, Gillingham are in a similar position to both Blackpool and Accrington Stanley when these two teams arrived at the Kassam on March 20th and April 5th. Both left Oxfordshire with three points, putting huge dents in Oxford’s play-off chase.

The U’s seemed to struggle against the directness of both sides. Gillingham’s usual 4-4-2 set up lends itself to playing in this way, and if the away side can get a grip of the midfield- Oxford’s weaker area in recent weeks – then they could be in for a more pleasant trip than it seems on paper.

Over their scintillating unbeaten run during December and January, Oxford were carried by their drive and momentum.

Goals came naturally, and goals against them were sporadic, to say the least. The Crewe and Shrewsbury victories may have just given Oxford enough to push on and finish the season on a high – the return of several key players such as Sam Long and James Henry only furthers this cause.

Karl Robinson has already acknowledged that it will not come without work.

‘There are five games left and we have given ourselves a chance. We have done that with honesty, integrity, respect and a self-discipline within our play. We fight for each other when we need to and it takes that type of team spirit even to get in the top ten at this level’ – Robinson via Oxford United FC. 

Straight speaking as ever, Gillingham boss Steve Evans knows that it’s sink or swim time for his side in terms of a play-off push. However, he too acknowledges it will be tough.

‘Before the game, I said that we had to win a minimum of four and not lose two. We have not lost today; we got a point. We have five to go, so it’s quite simple, if we lose at Oxford and Peterborough, we are done. We need to win four out of five. We are still fighting, we understand that teams have games in hand, we are not silly. We will prepare for two, as-tough-as-you-get, away games, away to Oxford, who have scored six today [Saturday], and away to Peterborough, who will be in the Championship next year’ – Evans via Gillingham FC.

Oxford are the favourites, but we’ve said that one too many times this season to know that, often, the U’s don’t live up to that label. Whether they do on Saturday remains to be seen…

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