It’s been a tricky start to life at Oxford United for Des Buckingham, but how has he done now that he has completed ten league games in charge?
From those ten league games, the new head coach has overseen four defeats, two draws and four wins.
Ten League Games In: How is Des Buckingham Getting on At Oxford United?
Results
Oxford were still in relatively good form when Liam Manning left the U’s, and Craig Short picked up two wins while as interim head coach. However, a trip to strugglers Cheltenham was always a potential banana skin for Buckingham in his first game.
The Robins were floundering at the wrong end of the table and had found goals hard to come by. That said, it’s these fixtures that Oxford have generally struggled in, and that was the case with a 2-0 defeat.
A return to Grenoble Road for Des Buckingham’s first and home and another tricky fixture – league leaders, Bolton. However, this was a much better display and the U’s ground out a goalless draw against a free-flowing Trotters side.
Wins over Grimsby and Forest Green in the FA Cup and Football League Trophy followed before arguably the worst performance of the season with a 3-0 loss at Peterborough. The result was a blow but the Posh just offered something the U’s had yet to face this season and were deserved winners.
Another draw followed, this time away at Thames Valley rivals, Reading – a first league meeting in over 20 years. Form goes out of the window for these fixtures and, although Oxford were the better side, they struggled to break down the Royals as both teams shared the spoils.
Four games down and Buckingham was still awaiting his first league win, but that came in emphatic style against Burton. While the Brewers were managerless, it didn’t take anything away from Oxford’s performance in a 3-0 win.
However, a trip to Northampton followed and the U’s were denied a point with the Cobblers scoring a stoppage-time winner. But then the roles were reversed when Cambridge came to Oxford with the U’s scoring a stoppage-time winner, with both games ending 2-1.
More late goals would follow. First, Buckingham’s side blew a two-goal lead at home against Derby, with the Rams scoring twice in the final ten minutes, before Oxford came from behind to win on the road against Charlton, with an Oisin Smyth wonder strike sealing the win in the 85th minute.
The U’s were then knocked out of the FA Cup and Football League Trophy with defeats on the road at Coventry and AFC Wimbledon.
However, the tenth league game came away at Carlisle, and it was another decent away day for the U’s. The goal against Charlton certainly gave Mark Harris a confidence boost, with the striker netting a brace before Tyler Goodrham added a third in Cumbria.
Injuries
Of course, plenty of these results could have gone either way but you can’t help but feel that Oxford should have picked up more points if Buckingham had more players to select.
Read More: Oxford United Injury Crisis: Seven First Team Players Out
Lots of teams suffer injuries but under the new head coach, the U’s are coming off the back of a crisis. Full backs’ Sam Long and Greg Leigh have been absent since before Buckingham was appointed, while centre-backs Stephan Negru and Jordan Thorniley have also been sidelined.
Veteran midfielder James Henry has only recently returned and there have also been on-and-off spells for Billy Bodin.
Then there are the wingers! Marcus Browne – still out. Kyle Edwards – still out and returned to his parent club, Ipswich, before being released (however, he is continuing his rehab with the U’s so could play a part later in the season).
Josh Murphy – had taken advantage of the previous duo being sidelined but he has now joined them, as had youngster Tyler Goodrham, who had also hit form. Stanley Mills was also absent for a match before a season-ending injury in his return saw him be recalled by Everton.
Transfers
The January transfer window is well underway but Buckingham actually made his first Oxford signing before the window opened. Free agent Joe Bennett has provided cover for Leigh at left-back and put in a string of positive displays. So much so that the player extended his short-term deal until the end of the season.
Along with Mills and Edwards, James Beadle has been recalled from his loan spell and gone to Sheffield Wednesday, while Alex Gorrin has joined Forest Green on a permanent deal.
However, the U’s brought in one new winger in the shape of Tyler Burey while Chelsea goalkeeper Jamie Cumming has replaced Beadle.
Tough Start to Life at Oxford United for Des Buckingham
Two months in and it’s been a tough start at Oxford United for Buckingham. The Oxford-born head coach has been dealt some tricky fixtures and numerous injuries but more importantly, he has only just appointed an assistant, with coach and former U’s player Chris Hackett stepping up, six weeks after Buckingham’s appointment.
When Liam Manning left to join Bristol City, he took a handful of backroom staff with him, after he cleared out some of the old staff that was at the club under Karl Robinson.
Not only does Buckingham need to regain the form on the pitch, but he is under pressure to bring the right players in, stop high-profile players leaving and continue to rebuild a backroom team.
It’s been tough and the January transfer window could help or hinder should the U’s secure a playoff place this season.
