Oxford have the Promotion Mentality

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 included John Mousinho, starting his first League game since 15th December 2020.

That made it nine first team players unavailable for their visit to Montgomery Waters, and another seemingly uphill challenge awaited.

However, Oxford overcame again.

Their 2-1 win was not like the free flowing football which fuelled the first-half domination of Burton a week earlier, but showed grit and perseverance.

Oxford took an early lead against Shrewsbury, only to be pegged back by Ryan Bowman's effort on the hour.

Oxford took the lead again late, though, as Cameron Brannagan scored his fifth penalty of the season, to maintain their fourth place position over Sunderland.

No League One side have scored more lead taking goals than Oxford's 34 this season, indicative of the never give up attitude Robinson has instilled in the squad.

This has been vital because only Morecambe (15) have conceded more equalisers than Oxford (14), but United's ability to retake the lead after conceding is remarkable.

Sure, we would all like United to comfortably put teams away without conceding, but the ability to win matches like that against Shrewsbury is earning them crucial points in the promotion race.

Since Oxford's return to the third tier, they have never scored more lead taking goals per game, showing the mentality United have to continue getting on top of teams even when they are pegged back.

This is a promotion mentality.

It will not always be this difficult, and Oxford will hope to have some key players back when Ipswich come to town next Saturday, but when you can win matches with your backs against the wall, then you can win any game.

This is a different side than any we've seen under Robinson before. They have a ruthlessness and streetwise about them, and this has been key to making them genuine competitors.

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