Oxford United won at home in the first round of the Carabao Cup with a 1-0 victory against Colchester.
The U’s were the better side across the 90 minutes but the game was only separated by a Tyler Goodrham goal inside ten minutes.
Here are three talking points from the game.
Read More: Team News, Form and Prediction as Oxford United Welcome Colchester
Oxford United Win Against Colchester
Line-Up and Formation Tweak
Gary Rowett didn’t make wholesale changes to the side that lost at Portsmouth on the opening day of the Championship but the display was pretty similar.
Jamie Cumming stayed between the sticks but three of the back four changed with Hidde ter Avest, Sam Long and Jack Currie coming in for Brodie Spencer, Elliott Moore and Greg Leigh.
The changes meant Rowett switched to a back three of Long, Michal Helik and Currie, with ter Avest and Matt Phillips as the wing-backs.
Cameron Brannagan was partnered with Goodrham and Siriki Dembele ahead, with Will Lankshear and Tom Bradshaw also involved in attack.
Scrappy Night
Like against Portsmouth, it was a scrappy battle on the pitch. The game was stop-start and there were gritty fouls and plenty of shirt pulling, particularly from Oxford in the second half.
While it may have been unpleasant to watch at times, it was a tactical tweak from Rowett that ensured the U’s ended the game with the win by any means necessary.
Goodrham Goal
Having drawn a blank at the weekend, it was important for Oxford to open their account for the season and it was a typical beauty from Tyler Goodrham.
The attacking midfielder was played into space and he bent the ball into the top corner from 25 yards.
Having penned a new deal in the summer, it’s important for the academy graduate to kick on this season and produce more moments of magic which U’s fans know he’s capable of doing.
