Oxford United head coach Gary Rowett was pleased with his team’s display in their 1-0 win over Derby.
The U’s won 1-0 at Grenoble Road to pick up just their second win of the campaign and while the scoreline was tight, the display from the two clubs wasn’t, with Oxford the better side for the majority.
Read More: Team News, Form and Predicted Line-Up as Oxford United Welcome Derby
Gary Rowett on Derby Victory
‘I Thought We Were Pretty Dominant in That First Period’
Speaking after the game, Gary Rowett said: “When it’s an early kickoff, of course, it gives you a little bit more time to enjoy it.
“We’ve spoken about it before and we know how well we’ve played in some of the home games in particular without getting the results and the points that we really probably deserve. So, I think what’s nice is to perform so well, particularly in the first half.
“I thought we were pretty dominant in that first period. What happens is if you don’t capitalise on it and we score the one good goal, as a great ball from Brian and a lovely finish from Stan, having just had a shot saved earlier on.
“But you get into half time and you feel like you might just open the door for them and that’s a challenge, you know what I mean? So, I think just at that point, I hope that doesn’t come back to bite you, but it didn’t come. So, therefore, we were pretty solid.
Return for Ciaron Brown and Squad Changes
Having made a couple of changes from the starting lineup against Watford before the international break, Rowett was happy to see the players put in a promising performance.
He added: “Yeah, really pleased about Brownie (Ciaron Brown) coming back in. He’s done fantastically well, he’s been out for so long, it shows us how well he’s prepared and how well the guys have prepared.
“It’s not easy when you haven’t played for a while and sometimes you can lose a little bit of edge, but I thought him coming back in gave us a little bit of extra toughness that we needed. But yeah, before we passed the ball really well, first off, we’ve gotten some great positions.
“Like I said, the only thing you can do on the sideline is to keep being pleased with what you see but being frustrated with not finishing those moves off and that and that’s what it is really. But I thought of some brilliant performances today. I thought it was a first half where you can see lots of exciting football, lots of good possession, lots of good moments. Just need to finish them off and from the wide areas, Stan getting his goal, growing from that side and then Siriki when he’s on his game like that, he’s such an exciting player to watch.
“I think it’s a difficult decision. Today, when you’ve got Filip Krastev there, who performed so well recently and Shemmy (Placheta). Who’s been a, brilliant attacking player for us for so long.
“So I think it was just it was quite difficult to pick the team today, but I think that, you know, certainly those two were very, very bright in terms of pinning, their defenders back, making it difficult for them to go forward too often and I thought they always look dangerous.”
Featured image courtesy of IMAGO / PPAUK
