Who knows where Oxford United would have been if Karl Robinson was unable to snap up a goalkeeper with the talent of Jordan Archer to fill in while Simon Eastwood was out injured.
The U’s lost their number one during their FA Cup second-round win at Walsall back in November, with a knee injury ruling the 30-year-old out until the new year.
That result extended the clubs unbeaten run to 16 games in all competitions and although Jack Stevens was ready for action as the club prepared for their Football League Trophy match at Exeter City just four days later, they needed a short term number one.
The U’s had some big games coming up, including a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Manchester City and a League One clash with table-topping Wycombe Wanderers, but Robinson was hopeful of finding someone between the sticks that would be as significant as Eastwood.
After four years and 166 appearances at Championship side Millwall, Archer was released in the summer. The 26-year-old was the perfect candidate to help steer the U’s through a difficult festive period.
He made his debut as the U’s played out just their third goalless draw of the season against Shrewsbury Town, but Archer put in a solid display in front of the U’s fans.
Oxford then travelled to Robinson’s former club, MK Dons. Although they lost the game and the unbeaten run came to an end, Archer still put in a strong performance for a below-par Oxford side, but a tougher test was just around the corner.
Four days later, the U’s welcomed the Carabao Cup holders in the last eight of the competition. As expected, Manchester City dominated but although they scored three goals from just four shots on target, the U’s put in a solid display against the Premier League champions, and Archer was one of them.
Three days later, Oxford were back at it when Wycombe came to town. The U’s scored midway through the first half before the visitors were reduced to ten men but Oxford held on. Despite having just 20% possession, Wycombe managed four shots on target, but Archer wasn’t going to be beaten.
Boxing Day came five days later, and although Oxford secured another 1-0 win, this time against Lincoln City, Archer was never really tested and managed another clean sheet.
The U’s faced a tough test at struggling AFC Wimbledon. Although the visitors took the lead, The Dons were level just after the restart with a volley from inside the box that Archer was unable to do anything about. But Oxford managed to race clear up the other end and regain the lead, which proved to be enough.
New Years Day provided a second away trip in three days, and the seventh game in 24 days. Oxford lost the match with Doncaster, with Archer conceding the games only goal despite a solid performance from the U’s.
Then yesterday, Archer took to the field for the final time as an Oxford player. Despite conceding early in the game against non-league Hartlepool United, a solid second half secured a 4-1 win to progress to the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Archer played eight games for Oxford, conceding seven goals but kept three clean sheets. Three of those goals conceded came against Manchester City, with the other opposition only managing a single goal past him on four separate occasions.
When the news broke that Eastwood would be sidelined, many fans, including myself, would have liked to see Stevens given more game time. However, looking back at it’s clear that we needed an experienced head to get us through a busy period and Archer was a solid signing.
