This week’s Oxford United round-up focuses mainly on results on the pitch. Karl Robinson’s side picked up six points from their two league games this week with wins away at Plymouth Argyle and Burton Albion respectively.
Oxford United Weekly Round-Up
Maximum Points on the Road
The U’s headed into Tuesday nights game away at Plymouth full of confidence, having gone five league games unbeaten. During the run, the U’s picked up points against Ipswich Town, Hull City and Blackpool before securing wins over Northampton Town and AFC Wimbledon in the league.
Oxford had conceded just one goal and kept four cleans before the trip to Devon as they looked to end the year in style. Although the defence was put to the test early on, the U’s rallied and came from behind to take a 3-1 lead with goals from Josh Ruffels, Sam Long and Mide Shodipo. It finished 3-2 to Oxford, but Robinson would have been happy with the display.
Next up came bottom club Burton. The Brewers had conceded 45 goals in the league – the worst in the division – and the U’s set about taking advantage of that from the off. Three goals after just 31 minutes – one from Matty Taylor and two from Shodipo – put the U’s in a commanding position.
Despite a goal before the break from former Oxford striker Kane Hemmings, a second-half brace from Ruffels sealed a comprehensive victory.
League Table
For the first time this season, Oxford are looking up rather than down. The U’s are 12th in the table and, although many sides above them have games in hand, sit just four points off a playoff position.
The slow start to the season could have been done to several reasons; a hangover from the League One play-off final defeat, key injuries or even the postponement of certain matches coming straight after a win, thus halting any momentum.
The postponement of matches have come at bad times and on Monday, Doncaster Rovers called their game off with the U’s, which was due to take place on Tuesday, January 5. Doncaster sit just five points above Oxford and the U’s would have relished the chance to face them when in such a rich vein of form.
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