Oxford's momentum can carry them up unpredictable league

Momentum is always hard to come by, but even more so in this most irregular of seasons.

Almost half his week’s set of League 1 fixtures were postponed due to Covid, and although United avoided that this time, they were not so lucky a week earlier when they had been due to play Bristol Rovers.

That was United’s fourth game called off due to the virus – all in the opposition ranks and all coming after wins for Oxford. It has made building momentum harder, something which has plagued the other teams in the division too.

Shrewsbury Town beat three of the top four in their three matches prior to a Boxing Day clash with Wigan, but they would have to come from behind just to salvage a point against the basement dwelling Latics.

Shrewsbury’s new manager bounce may have played a role in some of those results, but there is no such excuse for other sides in the division who are also finding consistency hard to come by.

Plymouth, for example, seem to win 5-0 one week and lose by a similar margin the next.

They are hovering around mid-table, but their goal difference of minus nine is the worst of any team not in the relegation zone - Oxford being one of six teams below them to have a greater goal difference. 

Ryan Lowe’s side are yet to win three games on the bounce, and they have also failed to record back-to-back clean sheets in any matches this season. With this lack of momentum, Plymouth are finding themselves slowly sliding down the table despite the odd big win.

Rochdale are another team who fit into the category of remarkably inconsistent.

A side tipped by many to struggle this season, Dale have pulled off some impressive results to surprise many, a 4-0 win over Plymouth one of them. However, their inability to get a run of results has meant they remain in danger of falling down the trap door.

Rochdale’s longest losing streak this season is just two games, but their greatest winning run is the same, keeping them routed in a relegation scrap.  

Peterborough, Hull and Ipswich have also recently lost good runs of form and find themselves dropping points at a rapid speed. With Lincoln and Sunderland both generally struggling to string together long runs of results, no side has been able to pull clear at the top.

This not only makes for an enthralling league, but also gives opportunities for sides to rapidly propel themselves up the table should anyone be able to find some momentum.

This is what Oxford will be hoping, who themselves have been troubled by inconsistency not just from match to match but from one half to the other.

Notable examples were against Swindon Town and most recently in the win over AFC Wimbledon, where they looked like they were playing Stockport County in the first 30 minutes, and Manchester City for the rest of the game, albeit a slightly less stylish Glenn Hodges’ version.

However, Oxford finished their chances early on and defended valiantly to preserve the lead, not something that has happened much this season.

Having been on the wrong side of these results many a time, Robinson knows the importance of getting three points in any way they can. 

A sign of a good side, maybe. A sign of a side whose luck is changing, more likely. 

Longest current unbeaten runs in League One

Having gone nineteen games without a clean sheet, Oxford have now registered five in their last eleven, and its three in a row after the shut out against Wimbledon.

At the start of this defensive run was United’s impressive performance away at Blackpool, where they survived two post hits and required Stevens to be alert of the threat posed by a lively Tangerine attack but dug deep to win a vital away point.  

Lodged between these results was a thumping 4-0 win over injury hit Northampton, and the manner in which Oxford put away the Cobblers in the second period was a massive moment for Oxford, who had failed to convert their chances for much of the season prior to this. 

Squad consistency 

There also seems to be more stability in Robinson’s team, as he appears to have found the winning formula, especially in midfield where United had been overrun previously.

Alex Gorrin, injured for much of the early season, has started all of Oxford’s last thirteen League matches. Liam Kelly and Marcus McGuane have also started the last six matches, the latter having not played back-to-back league matches in any games before this.

It has helped United settle into a groove, and the relentless pressing of Kelly is understood by his midfield partners as the trio seem to be the driving force in Oxford’s recent run.

The backline has been similarly more settled in recent weeks, as Sam Long, who seemed to play everywhere bar in goal in the first few games of the season, has been moved back into his favoured right back position, also allowing Robinson to offer a break for Sean Clare.

Atkinson’s injury problems seem to be more controlled now and his relationship with Moore is growing every game.  

This could be massive in building a run of results for Oxford, who know just how effective it can be having formed exactly that last season.

They sat in 20^th position after seven games, but a run of just one defeat in 15 propelled United to second in the table by the end of 2019.

This is the kind of form United need to find again if they are to challenge closer to the top of the table.

Due to the sporadic nature of the League this season, Oxford’s back-to-back wins is actually the joint longest current winning run in League One, along with Lincoln, showing how the inconsistencies in the schedule and the teams around them means Oxford have an excellent opportunity to make something of this season if they can continue on their momentum in the coming games.