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Oxford United are in with a shot at promotion for the third season in a row after a strong first half of the campaign.
As any Oxford fan will tell you, a slow start to the season has become synonymous with the club. In recent years, the U’s have found themselves as low as in the relegation zone at the halfway point of the season. This campaign, however, has so far proven to be an outlier in the trend.
Three Key Games
Oxford United 5-1 Accrington Stanley – September 27th 2021
Nine games into the season and Karl Robinson’s side welcomed Accrington Stanley to the Kassam Stadium Heading into the encounter, the U’s sat 13th in the league with Stanley in ninth. This game has since been bookmarked by fans as a game where Oxford showed that they mean business.
Returning loanee Nathan Holland netted the opening goal after a determined run saw the 23-year-old give Oxford the lead. He quickly added a second with another strong run into the box, this time without the ball, as he was found well by Steve Seddon to double the hosts’ advantage.
The U’s sealed the game with three more goals in the second half, winning the ball high and converting shots to goals with ease.
We saw a different side on this day but the game was incredibly even. Oxford only had 51% possession and had just two more shots than Stanley, however, the main difference was that the U’s took their chances.
It was a welcomed change from hearing Karl Robinson come out after the game and explain how his side played well but didn’t convert the chances to goals.
Flashbacks of Oxford’s trip to Blackpool at the start of the 2019/20 season come to mind when the U’s had 70% possession, 24 shots to Blackpool’s four and left with a 2-1 defeat.
Oxford United 2-0 Shrewsbury Town – October 19th 2021
Going into the 12th game of the season, Oxford sat eighth in the league, a brilliant start to the season if compared to where they were at the same point of last season which was 19th.
The fixture was the start of a brilliant nine-game unbeaten run that saw the U’s win six games and hold the likes of Rotherham and Sunderland, who currently sit first and second in the league respectively, to draws.
A devilish ball across the ball from Mark Sykes trickled past both defenders and attackers to put Robinson’s side ahead.
Matty Taylor had been a handful all game and could have easily had a hat-trick, including a well taken left-footed goal which was ruled out for offside.
Midfielder Cameron Brannagan secured the win in the 87th minute with a 25-yard strike that flew through a sea of bodies to set the U’s up on a run that has since cemented them in the play-off places.
Oxford United 2-3 Wigan Athletic – December 18th 2021
Despite Oxford losing this game, it still feels like an important game in the season so far against a side who many believe will go on to win League One.
It was a game where the U’s showed that they have both the quality and determination to put up a fight against the best that the division has to offer.
Oxford were missing several players for this game and resulted in playing an extremely makeshift side with full-backs playing at centre-back, wingers playing as full-backs and a number 10 playing as the sole defensive midfielder. Most fans came into the game with little hope against a side that were almost fully fit.
It was Robinson’s men who played the better football throughout. Expansive and fluid phases culminating in a chance at goal allowed the U’s to explore the Wigan’s defensive frailties.
It was the Latics however who went ahead after some poor defending from a corner saw Will Keane wide open to net the opener. The visitors made it two as an impressive strike from Max Power saw Wigan double their lead.
Oxford showed brilliant resilience to get back into this one with Ryan Williams halving the deficit a minute after Power’s goal and Anthony Forde setting up Taylor to level the game just before the hour-mark.
Wigan won it late on with a James McClean finish which exposed the hosts’ unorthodox back four. However, it was a real sign that even with a depleted side, Oxford can play some fantastic football against a tough and fully fit opposition.
Star Player – Matty Taylor
The star of the Oxford United show so far has to be Taylor. The number nine has once again led the line and the scoring for the U’s this season. He has taken his game to a new level, showing an intensity and an ability to compete physically with players a lot bigger than himself, something he previously was not doing as much.
Taylor has been the top goalscorer for the previous two seasons and is already at double figures for goals this campaign.
The forward triggers the press for the team and allows the side to play a system where they win the ball back and create quick chances with his deadly finishing.
The 31-year-old shows no signs of slowing down and will surely be offered an extension when his contract runs out at the end of the 2022/23 season.
Underperforming Player – Dan Agyei
The 24-year-old is a player that has United fans perplexed. The forward has raw athleticism, unlike most players you see. He is tall, strong, incredibly quick, brilliant in the air and has a strong shot.
Yet he only has two cup goals to his name and has failed to make an impact in the league this season.
Agyei has blessed Oxford fans with some world-class moments of skill and power, including a late winner against rivals Swindon Town. However, he has failed to show any sustained or consistent form.
As a result, Agyei has been nothing more than an impact sub, which is a shame, because there is no doubt there is the potential for a top-class player.
What’s Next?
For the U’s, there is only one aim, promotion.
They have shown themselves to be a side with the grit and determination to pick up points where they don’t deserve or score last-minute winners with the quality in wide areas and upfront.
They also have the benefit of being a more experienced outfit when it comes to making the play-offs, losing to Wycombe Wanderers in the final two years ago and failing to beat Blackpool over two legs in the semi-final of the season just gone.
Providing major injuries to the likes of Taylor and Elliot Moore are avoided, and the majority of the team remain COVID-19 free, it is a promising place for Oxford to be in.
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