A cool cloudy October South Yorkshire afternoon greeted these two in form teams as they entered the NYS playing area.

The two teams lined up as follows with both teams seemingly employing a 4-3-3 formation.

The hosts welcomed back LB Joe Mattock who replaced injured Clark Robertson in an otherwise unchanged line up from last weekend’s fine 2-1 victory at Blackpool. The visitors drafted in Elliot Moore to replace suspended Rob Dickie in the U’s defence as Karl Robinson’s team looked to build on last weekend’s fine 3-0 win over a good Doncaster side.

A cagey opening period of the game ensued with the Millers attempting to take the game to the visitors but the U’s backline remained relatively untroubled but just past the quarter hour mark there were suddenly chances at either end. Firstly the visitors James Henry volleyed just wide after the Millers made a mess of a clearance while at the other end full back Matt Olasunde reached the byline & pulled the ball back for the onrushing Jake Hastie but his effort was blocked by U’s defender Chris Cadden.

The deadlock was broken on 23 minutes with an effort of real quality, midfielder Brannagan won the ball in a tussle with Olasunde & squared the ball to Fosu around 30 yards from goal, the frontman then unleashed a powerful drive that gave Iversen in the host’s goal no chance of saving. There was almost an equaliser straight from the restart as the excellent Cadden cleared a Jake Hastie strike of the line with Us keeper Eastwood beaten. The visitors, buoyed by the goal almost made it 2-0 minutes later when Iverson produced an astonishing save from Brannagan with his legs from close range. The game was certainly warming up now & the Millers squared matters on 35 minutes with a fine goal by CB Michael Ihiekwe. His drive forward released Olasunde on the right & the defender continued his run forward to beat Eastwood to the cross to head the hosts level. The two teams continued to attack one another in an end to end encounter but there was no significant chances for either side as a hugely entertaining 45 minutes came to an end.

HT Millers 1 U’s 1

The visitors started the second period well & had the Millers defence working overtime & it came as no surprise when Oxford regained the lead on 57 minutes. There was a hint of a foul by Ruffels on the Millers Wiles in the build-up but the referee waved play on, the ball reached Brannagan & his clipped cross found the head of Matty Taylor who beat Iversen at his near post.

Rather than sitting back & protecting the lead the on form U’s kept going forward & came within a whisker of extending their lead on numerous occasions with Taylor twice being denied by the exceptional Iversen, & both Henry & Mousinho having efforts blocked by the increasingly desperate home defence. Having rather luckily weathered Oxfords spell of pressure Millers boss Paul Warne introduced forwards Ogbene, Morris & Lamy in an attempt to stem the tide & improve their forward play but despite regaining their composure & some decent build up play, the Millers didn’t do enough in the final third to rescue the game despite having a reasonable claim for a penalty for handball on 87 minutes which was waved away & a Morris header late on that was scrambled clear for an unproductive corner. Fosu almost grabbed his second in injury time but his effort hit the base of the post following a swift Oxford break.

FT Millers 1 U’s 2

Back to the drawing board for Paul Warne’s Millers after a three game winning run in league & cup. His team were well beaten by the better side on the day but the Millers did play some decent stuff at times & there are positives to take forward as the Millers boss strives for the consistency required for a playoff push.

The 734 Oxford fans went home happy

I must admit I was very impressed with Karl Robinson’s Oxford this afternoon. Defensively sound with quick forward thinking players in midfield & forwards that know how to finish. Cadden at the back & Brannagan were particularly impressive as was Fosu further forward. It’s perhaps a little early to predict a promotion push but I believe it could be the best Oxford season for many years.

words Ian Bradley, D3D4 Rotherham United correspondent