Exciting times ahead……. but the next eight games could be make or break
Valentine’s Day brought something far more important to Oxford united fans than what a day of overpriced chocolates normally does. A scrappy 2 – 1 win over Wigan hardly sounds like a game to remember, but it was the ability to get the game finished, and with a win, which made it so important.
The floodlights catching fire, the weather postponing the game by 24 hours, whilst all mixed with a slightly underwhelming performance meant this was a game United would usually have dropped points in.
But this time round they didn’t, captain Elliott Moore’s 83rd-minute goal summed up the game perfectly, not pretty, but very effective. United ended the day in 7th place in the table and just one point off the top 6 and more importantly the playoff places.
However, since then results have been mixed. Defeat to Tranmere in the papa johns trophy semi-final, was more disappointing for the very lacklustre performance, as opposed to the overall importance of the result. A stalemate followed at fellow playoff hunters Ipswich, a result which potentially benefited Oxford more. Tuesday nights homes defeat to Portsmouth felt more like a kick in the teeth due to the league position of both sides. In recent years the two teams have played out some very tight games, with a draw being the usual outcome, including both legs of last seasons playoff semi-finals.
After the game United boss Karl Robinson told the clubs official website.
“ It was good game between two very honest teams, decided by a great cross and a great header”. “We are disappointed to lose but if we had lost just one in that run where we won nine in a row, then won today to put ourselves five points off the top eight, then everyone would be saying Oxford are in this”.
Truth be told they are in this, very much so. Whilst recent results have seen Oxford drop to eight in the league one form table, there promotion aspirations are still very much in their own hands. There are 18 games left to go, 54 points to play for and United find themselves just 5 points outside the playoff places.
The next 8 games are full of opportunities for Oxford to pick up points whilst also stopping there promotion rivals from progressing further ahead.
Oxfords next 8 fixtures: – League positions all correct as of 26/2/2021
MK Dons (A) – Currently 13th and 8 points off 6th place – In the last 5 games they have:
Won = 3, Drawn = 1 and Lost = 1.
Peterborough (H) – Currently top of the league – In the last 5 games they have:
Won = 5 out of 5
Charlton (H) – Currently 9th and 5 points off 6th place – In the last 5 games they have:
Won = 1, Drawn = 1 and Lost = 3
Swindon (A) – Currently 19th and 1 point above the relegation zone – In the last 5 games they have:
Won = 2, Drawn = 1 and Lost = 2
Hull (A) – Currently 3rd and 5 points off top spot – In the last 5 games they have:
Won = 1, Drawn = 2 and Lost = 2
Doncaster (H) – Currently 6th and 9 points off top spot – In the last 5 games they have:
Won = 1, Drawn = 1 and Lost = 3
Blackpool (H) – Currently 14th and 9 points off 6th place – In the last 5 games they have:
Won = 4 and Lost = 1
Northampton (A) – Rearranged game – Currently 23rd and 2 points from safety – In the last 5 games they have:
Drawn = 2 and Lost = 3
The outcome of these 8 games will surely go a long way towards ultimately deciding whether some end of season excitement is likely for united.
MK Dons have certainly found another level in recent times under Russell Martin and with Will Grigg amongst the goals again, the trip to Karl Robinson’s old stomping ground will be a very difficult game indeed.
Peterborough are in a rich vein of form and are currently the team no one in the league wants to face, but on there day Oxford can raise there game for anyone, and this just may have to be one of those days.
There seems a sense that if Oxford are to stay in and around the playoff places or higher then they will need to be winning games at home against the likes of Charlton, Doncaster and Blackpool. All 3 of these are hard games and against sides either very much in the mix for promotion or as in Blackpool’s case, the second-most in form team in league one over the last six matches.
Away games at Northampton and Swindon are also fixtures that you feel teams who are serious about going up, identify as must-win, although the clash at the County ground obviously carries its own extra challenges. The away game at Hull is certainly one that you feel if United leave having avoided defeat then they will be happy.
Maximum possible points return from these 8 games = 24
Predicted points return from these 8 games = 15
One player who won’t be part of the run-in will be Marcus McGuane who will be out for the rest of the season due to a thigh injury. The Nottingham Forest loanee who had impressed since his loan move in the summer had already been out for a period of time with this issue. He was however seemingly making progress towards rejoining the squad and helping the U’s promotion push. But on Tuesday night Oxford boss Karl Robinson confirmed there had been a setback.
Robinson told the official club website “We are gutted for Marcus because he had been doing so well for us and was having a major impact on our season. He is a good lad and has settled in here really well off the pitch. On it he has that same power in midfield that we had last season with Shandon Baptise, and then Marcus Browne when we moved him back there”.
Players such as Elliott Lee, Olamide Shodipo and Brandon Barker could all be pivotal in this run-in towards the end of the season, with pace on the wings having long been Karl Robinson’s biggest wish. Barker has started to show glimpses of what a player he can be and with Lee you are always guaranteed hard work.
Another man who has proven very important this season is Jack Stevens. Promoted from the subs bench to replace long time number 1 and fan favourite Simon Eastwood, is by no means an easy job. However when Eastwood’s form dipped, and Stevens was given an opportunity, he has taken it and never looked back.
To further boost the club it was announced today that he has signed a new 3 and a half year contract.
“I am delighted to have signed, I have been here a while now and have enjoyed every bit of it. I had to be patient, that’s what any young goalkeeper goes through, but the gaffer has faith in me and I am more than happy to agree a new deal and be part of what is being built here”, Stevens told the clubs official website.
words Phil Stilgoe, Oxford United fan