Generation Ox

Luke McNally's thunderous 95th minute header against Ipswich was a sublime moment, rescuing an unexpected point against a playoff rival.  Whilst this late drama has been a staple of football at the Kassam this season , a goal from a defender has become something of a rarity.  This was McNally's fourth goal of the season, more than double Oxford's next most prolific defender, Steve Seddon, and Oxford's whole defensive tally is only eight goals. In a season when Oxford are scoring so many, why has the attacking output from the defence declined?  ...  Over the past few seasons, Oxford have been gifted with some remarkably consistent goal scorers at the back, and this was clear for all to see last season.  The emergence of Sam Long as a genuine attacking outlet, along with Atkinson's expansive style and Ruffels' impressive ability to ghost in at the back post helped make Oxford the most prolific goalscoring defence in Europe.  No side in Europe's top five leagu...

Despite Oxford's good form, this has been a somewhat difficult week for Us fans.  Results largely went against them on Tuesday night, and then the inevitable injury blows came.  Oxford have faced availability problems before this season, but it has thus far not massively impacted United's season.   Having already lost captain Elliot Moore to the treatment table, two goal hero against Burton Sam Baldock was also confirmed to be out for a considerable number of weeks, whilst Marcus Browne's recovery from an injury he sustained against Portsmouth also took a blow.  Given how much of United's transformation to 5-3-2 seemed built around Baldock and Taylor playing in tandem this felt like a big blow. A blow, in fact, which might derail Oxford's promotion push, with so many crucial games coming up.   Another batch of injury and illness took Sam Long, Ciaron Browne and Jack Stevens out of the picture, leaving an unorthodox back line to play Shrewsbury, which i...