Generation Ox

United outplayed Charlton, and were deserving of the incredible result they came away with. Yet it is also true that they registered an Expected Goals (xG) of just 1.2, but scored four times. Matty Taylor’s laser like accuracy in the box played a part, but it is what Oxford are doing from outside the area which is so impressive at the moment. Sam Baldock’s first goal for the club was a deliciously curled finish into the far corner from the edge of the 18-yard-box, whilst Cameron Brannagan added another special goal to his collection. Billy Bodin grabbed two from range against Bolton the week before, and it was Brannagan again who had drawn United level with a peach of a strike from some 25-yards out against Portsmouth, before Nathan Holland completed the turnaround with a stunning long-range effort of his own. United have become long-range experts in recent weeks, but we shouldn’t be surprised, because this tendency to shoot, and usually score, from distance has been a trend

To say Ryan Williams returned to Oxford as a returning hero would be an exaggeration, but the Australian born winger certainly caused some excitement when he arrived from Portsmouth. The former Oxford-loanee had plenty of League One experience under his belt and appeared one of the brighter elements of Portsmouth during the Jackett years. Signing him on a free transfer seemed like a bit of a coup. Less than six months later, though, and rumours of Williams returning to Australia were swirling around the January transfer market, and there wouldn’t have been too many Oxford fans struggling with the concept of pushing for promotion without him. Due to no fault of his own, Williams has rather become the forgotten man of Oxford’s attack. … Williams has played in 20 of Oxford’s 33 League One games this season, but has only completed ninety minutes on four occasions. Nearly half (45%) of William’s appearances have been off the bench, and he played six minutes or less in five of

Two more fabulous goals scored, but three cheap ones conceded too.  After a fourth 3-2 in six home matches for United, it is clear where their deficiencies lie.  Robinson's side are scintillating going forward, able to slice through teams at will.  Quality finishing is helping, too, with Billy Bodin netting a fabulous brace against Bolton, only to see his heroics cancelled out by more disappointing defending. A story which is becoming increasingly familiar.   Oxford's tendency to concede has inevitably led to questions at the back, and more specifically the goalkeeper.  For the first time in his short professional career, Jack Stevens' performances are coming under genuine pressure. Declan John's equaliser on ten minutes from a seemingly implausible position only adding fuel to the fire.  The vast majority of fans would still support Jack Stevens, and his impact since replacing Eastwood in November last year has been undisputed, but Oxford are certainly losing out on po

The rain was falling so hard against Accrington that it didn't really feel like a football game at all by the end. Whilst the pitch held up surprisingly well, the conditions certainly didn't help Oxford, with high winds also unsettling the visitors.  Of course, the game could have panned out very differently had Oxford scored in the first 30 minutes, which they largely controlled.  Once O'Sullivan had put the hosts in front, though, there never looked a way back for Oxford, even with their sensational record late on in games .  From that moment on, it felt like a long night for the brave United supporters who had made the near 200 mile journey North, pelted by rain in their position behind the goal.  This was not the first time this year Oxford have been scuppered by the weather gods, and their form in the rain this season begs questions of whether it is all worth it. ... The first thing to point out is that this is not meant to be a full examination of Oxford's game ov

Games between Oxford and Portsmouth are rarely without drama. But this weekend's clash at a blustery Kassam Stadium was particularly action infused.  Yet the dramatic finish has almost become the norm this season.  Not only was this the fourth 3-2 Oxford have been involved in (three of them coming in League One), but it was another instance of United scoring late to snatch three points from a major competitor.  These late goals have become something of a habit, and has been ever since Robinson took charge of the Us.  Games at the Kassam are not ones to leave early at the moment, as only Wigan Athletic (13) have scored more goals in the last ten minutes plus injury time than Oxford (12) in League One this season.  Late goals scored in League One 2021-22 That remains the case when extending it to all of England's top four divisions.  Late goals scored in England's top four divisions 2021-22 Oxford have been excelling in the closing stages well before this season, though. In t

It is not often that Oxford get played off the park, but when they do, their opposition always seems to have one thing in common; their press.  It would be harsh to say Oxford were played off the park against Wigan, but they certainly struggled to implement their usual crisp, passing game, after the first 25 minutes.  Oxford's passing accuracy against the Latics was 68%, compared to their season average of 74.2%.  Part of this could be down to the physicality which Wigan play at, but Leam Richardson's side intense press all over the park certainly helped unsettle their opponents and stop them playing their usual passing style.  United's next opponents are Portsmouth on Saturday, the best pressing team in the League, which is explored further in this piece .  For teams so far this season, pressing high and intensely has proved the most effective route to victory, so Oxford will need to be at their best against Pompey.   ...  The most accurate way of measuring a side's pr

Oxford started 2022 with one point from three games, culminating in a demoralising defeat to ‘high flying’ Wycombe Wanderers which left them eight points off the promotion places and threatened to derail their promotion challenge. Since then, it has been seven points from a possible nine, and they are now just six points off Wigan in 2 nd place, and a mere two points behind their Buckinghamshire rivals. Tuesday night saw Oxford miss the opportunity to go ahead of the Chairboys on goal difference, but their result against Wigan proved how far they’ve come since last season. They put in a gritty, hard-working performance to earn a valuable point away at a side who are probably favourites to gain automatic promotion. United may feel it could have been more, too, given how well they started the game, dominating the early exchanges and deservedly taking the lead through a sublime team goal, capped off by Matty Taylor, after 23 minutes. Wigan grew into the game, and United woul

Oxford went into the January transfer window wanting a left-back, holding midfielder and striker.  They've left it wanting a holding midfielder and striker.  If Ciaran Brown's comments that he is an "out and out centre back" mean anything, you might just be able to add left-back to that list as well.  It's been a window where Oxford have replaced where necessary, and improved in certain positions, but failed to recruit in the positions laid out as top priority, and it is therefore very difficult to determine whether the mid-season transfer window has been a success for United or not.  They certainly left their business late, with all of their deals happening in the last six days of the window, and all the singings coming in on deadline day.  Below is a quick recap of the deals which Oxford got over the line this January.  Incomings  Marcus Browne - Middlesbrough - Permanent - Two-and-a-half years (Option of a further 12 months)  Oisin Smyth - Dungannon Swifts - Pe