The decision to drop Simon Eastwood and replace him with the relatively inexperienced Jack Stevens just a quarter of the way into the season must have been a difficult choice to make for Karl Robinson.
Eastwood has played over 200 times for the U’s, while Stevens has managed just 13. The only time Eastwood has missed games since his arrival in 2016 is through suspension or injury. However, despite his experience, the 31-year-old hasn’t been the same for a while and it has affected his performances on the pitch.
Poor displays against Wycombe in the League One playoff final and recent derby defeat to Swindon have been highlighted due to the nature of the fixture, and he hasn’t truly recovered from those errors.
To bring Stevens in when he did took courage from Robinson, but it also needed doing. Eastwood had gone 14 games without a clean sheet and had conceded 23 goals from just 13 league games.
The decision was made after the loss against Swindon – the U’s eighth of the season – and before games against Ipswich Town and Hull City who were occupying top six spots respectively.
Before the Ipswich game, Oxford had kept just one clean sheet all season and it came during a Football League Trophy match with Stevens in goal. Since Stevens replaced Eastwood for the game against the Tractor Boys, the U’s have kept four clean sheets from five league games.
On Boxing Days, the U’s kept that fourth clean sheet against a dogged and determined AFC Wimbledon side. Although Stevens had come up against Hull and Ipswich, this was his toughest outing yet, but the 23-year-old didn’t disappoint.
Named Man of the Match, Stevens made several crucial saves. Wimbledon dominated for large parts of the game but couldn’t find a way past Stevens.
He came out quickly to stop Ethan Chislett before tipping over Callum Reilly’s effort from the rebound. In the second half, Stevens stayed big when Ryan Longman turned in the box to tip the ball away. He stopped Jack Rudoni from a corner before denying Longman again from an effort from range with his feet.
It was an inspired display from Stevens and it is no coincidence that the U’s have kept as many clean sheets during his time between the sticks as they have. The 23-year-old has reassured the defence and there is an air of confidence in the back four.
It is only a matter of time before the club will need to enter talks over a new contract. Stevens had recently signed one but his movement to the first-choice goalkeeper and inspired performances are deserving of a better deal.
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