Oxford United will face Blackpool in the League One playoff semi-finals. However, to achieve a top-six finish may have come as a surprise for many.
While the U’s reached the League One play-off final last season, the campaign was curtailed early as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Oxford finished the season in fourth, but they could have also dropped out entirely with nine games remaining.
This season, however, the U’s are deserving of their spot despite a dreadful start. Seven defeats from the opening ten league games saw Karl Robinson’s side occupy a bottom four spot. Was it a hangover from the previous season? Oxford under Robinson are notoriously a low starters, but this wasn’t what the promotion hopefuls set out to achieve at the beginning of the new campaign.
A first defeat in 19 years against rivals Swindon Town at the end of November saw the U’s hovering just above the bottom four.
However, that result turned out to be a catalyst for the season as the U’s would go the next ten league games unbeaten. This included a run of seven successive wins and nine in all competitions, which surpassed the club record previously set by the late Jim Smith in the early 1980s. Despite defeat at Doncaster, Oxford returned to winning ways against Bristol Rovers and Wigan Athletic.
A loss against Portsmouth, three draws and an away win at Swindon started the beginning of an inconsistent period. From the final 15 league games, the U’s would fail to draw, winning nine and losing six. The defeats came at a crucial time, too, and in matches, the club probably expected to win. Losses on the road at Northampton and Wimbledon, alongside two defeats over Easter weekend, put a dampener on their promotion push, but six wins from the final seven games rekindled the charge.
Followong the derby loss in November, Robinson knew a change was needed. Defensively, his side were a shambles and had failed to keep a clean sheet in 18 games in all competitions. The manager dropped the experienced Simon Eastwood after his howler against the Robins and gave Jack Stevens game time. Not only did the 23-year-old manage a clean sheet in the opening game against Ipswich, but he would achieve a further 12.
As a defensive unit, the back four started to gel. The early season defeats highlighted where they were struggling defensively and the early victories still saw defensive errors. But Robinson got the best of the unit both defensively and offensively. When top scorer Matty Taylor found himself in a goal drought, Josh Ruffels, Sam Long and Elliott Moore all chipped in with crucial goals and assists. The full-backs ended the regular season with six goals each and a combined ten assists, while Moore added five goals and four assists himself.
Then, the rest of the squad came up with the goods. Taylor ended the campaign with 18 goals, QPR loanee Mide Shodipo reached double figures and James Henry added seven goals and nine assists. Even substitutes Sam Winnall and Dan Agyei provided six each, while January signings Elliot Lee and Brandon Barker added nine.
Despite the likes of midfield trio Cameron Brannagan, Mark Sykes or Marcus McGuane lacking in goals, the club still ended up with the third-highest attack in League One. The improved performances of Brannagan, Henry and Sykes in the second half of the season also proved pivotal.
It wasn’t just player performances, either. It may be a season in which the club recorded memorable comebacks more than ever before. Coming from behind at Home Park against Plymouth, a seven-goal thriller at Rochdale and late winners against Gillingham and Shrewsbury showcased the teams desire.
Yes, Oxford may have only occupied a top-six spot for three days of the season, but they hit form and put runs together when it mattered. If it wasn’t for their slow start, Robinson’s side could have found themselves battling with the top two, but in a season of inconsistencies for all teams, Oxford showed they have the desire and fight to get the result when required.
