Oxford United travel to Shrewsbury on Saturday, knowing a win will keep their playoff hopes alive. In an unusual twist of fate, it was a similar scenario when the side last met in Shropshire, although the importance of all three points was unbeknown at the time.
The U’s headed to New Meadow for matchday 35 of the season, not knowing it would be the final league game of the campaign as a result of the coronavirus pandemic halting football around the world. However, three points would not only make it five wins in succession for the U’s, but it would also mean Oxford would end the curtailed season in fourth place.
Despite their lowly league standing, Sam Ricketts’ side raced into a two-goal lead with goals from Daniel Udoh and Callum Lang, but were reduced to ten men after Josh Vela picked up a second yellow card ten minutes before the break.
Oxford reduced the deficit with a goal in stoppage time from Marcus Browne, but the U’s still had plenty of work to do.
However, Oxford levelled proceedings with 30 minutes remaining when Dan Agyei unleashed a fierce strike into the top corner.
Then, with just two minutes remaining, Oxford completed the comeback when Josh Ruffels rose highest at the back post to head home Browne’s free-kick.
Read our full match report as Oxford win at Shrewsbury
The result not only moved the U’s back into the top six, but up to third, just two points behind second-placed Rotherham United.
With the season curtailed with nine games still remaining, the win at New Meadow proved pivotal as Oxford negotiated their way past Portsmouth in the League One play-off semi-final. Although the final ended in defeat to Wycombe Wanderers, the Shrewsbury result was a microcosm of the U’s season – exciting, unpredictable and full of potential.
