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.
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| Late goals scored in League One 2021-22 |
That remains the case when extending it to all of England's top four divisions.
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| 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 the 2020-21 campaign, only Sunderland (19) scored more goals than Oxford (18) in the last ten minutes plus injury time, with the next best clubs on that list, Rochdale and Peterborough, only registering 14.
The season before, only Doncaster (14) scored more than United (11), with the shortened season responsible for the lower figures.
2018-19 was less packed with late drama for Oxford, with six teams scoring more goals in the final stages, and the same was true for the 2017-18 season.
Since Robinson became head coach partway through the 2017-18 season, though, United have regularly been the source of late drama.
Even in Robinson's early years as Oxford boss, when United languished in the bottom half of the table, they were comfortably in the top ten for late goals scored.
As United have started challenging towards the top of the league, the character Robinson has instilled in the team has shone through.
Over the last two seasons, no side in England's top four divisions have scored more goals after the 80th minute than Oxford, with Sunderland in second five goals behind them.
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| Late goals in England's top four divisions over the last two seasons |
Robinson's side just don't know when to stop, with Saturday's result bringing back memories of last season's 3-2 wonder victory over Gillingham.
This doesn't mean Oxford are immune to conceding late themselves, however.
United have conceded a combined 15 goals in the closing ten minutes plus injury time over the past two seasons, putting them roughly midtable in League One.
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| Goals conceded after the 80th minute in the last two League One seasons (including only teams in the division both years) |
With this flurry of evening drama, it is no surprise that Oxford are earning the nicknames as the entertainers of League One.
Fortunately for Robinson, Oxford often end up coming out on the right side of these dramatic late finishes, and this has been crucial in propelling them up the division.
The result against Portsmouth was the fourth time Oxford have scored in the final 10 minutes plus injury time to earn three points this season, those results coming against Portsmouth, Doncaster and Sheffield Wednesday (twice). Oxford beat MK Dons, meanwhile, in the 79th minute.
Excluding Doncaster, those teams are all competing with Oxford at the top end of the table, albeit Portsmouth are currently dwindling in the bottom half. This is 12 points Oxford have taken off competitors with late winners.
Perhaps the reason for this abundance of late goals is the impact Oxford's substitutes can make.
United have always been blessed with strong difference makers, probably a result of Karl Robinson's obsession with wingers.
Over the past two seasons, four of the top ten most impactful substitutes in League One (judged by goals and assists off the bench) have been Oxford players.
Those four players - Sam Winnall (four goals, one assist), Olamide Shodipo (four goals, one assist), Dan Agyei (three goals, three assists) and James Henry (three goals, one assist) - have contributed fourteen goals and eight assists off the bench, a remarkable number and indicative of the strength of Robinson's substitutions.
No other players in the top ten for substitute's impact play for the same club.
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| Most goal involvements off the bench in League One since the start of the 2020-21 season |
Nathan Holland appears to be picking up the baton now.
He grabbed the winner against Pompey having been thrown on just before the hour mark, and also scored what looked like the winner in the 85th minute against Burton in the EFL cup earlier this season, having been sent on in the 70th minute.
It is not purely the personnel that drives Oxford's late game success, though. Rather it is Robinson's effervescent personality and relentless desire to attack, which has clearly worn off on his players.
As much as Robinson may be cast as an undynamic and emotionally driven coach, he clearly knows what subs to make and when to make them, often knowing how to change the momentum of a game late on.
This is proving crucial in earning Oxford big points against the teams around them.
If Oxford can keep up their current rate of a late goal scored once every two-and-a-half games, they are sure to be in and about the promotion push this season.
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