Oxford United began March with a 3-2 defeat at Portsmouth. The U’s took an early lead at Fratton Park through Marcus Browne but two goals before the break for the hosts turned the game on its head. Pompey added a third after the restart but despite a late strike from Luke McNally, the U’s were unable to record another comeback.
Ahead of the visit of Burton, Karl Robinson confirmed that Elliott Moore and Marcus Browne would be sidelined for a significant period. Moore could be out for between four to eight weeks with an ankle injury while the hamstring injury Browne picked up against Portsmouth will keep him on the sidelines for around six weeks.
Oxford bounced back from their Fratton Park defeat with a 4-1 win over Burton. Sam Baldock opened the scoring after just seven minutes and the U’s added three more before the break, with Gavin Whyte scoring his first of the season, another for Baldock and a 20th of the campaign for Matty Taylor. The Brewers also scored before the break but the U’s were too good for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s side.
The club’s proposed move to Stratfield Brake then obtained positive backing ahead of another meeting. Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet is commended to allow the club to enter negotiations over the land, in which the club are looking to build an 18,000 capacity stadium, community and sports grounds and hotel, retail and conference facilities. Following a four-week public consultation, 80 per cent of the 3,740 responses voted in favour of the move.
Prior to Oxford’s trip to Shrewsbury, the club were dealt another injury blow with Baldock being sidelined for a number of weeks. The former Derby County man has hit the ground running since joining the club in February and the U’s will have to make do without for the foreseeable.
On the pitch, the U’s continued their promotion charge with a scrappy win at Shrewsbury. Taylor opened the scoring but a makeshift defence conceded an equaliser on the hour mark. However, Cameron Brannagan secured all three points with a penalty late on in the game.
Back onto matters off the field, the club were dealt a significant boost on the lease for the grounds at Stratfield Brake. Following a meeting on Tuesday, March 15, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet authorised officers to begin detailed talks with the club about securing a proposed 250-year lease, which would include a new 18,000 capacity stadium along with state of the art facilities.
On the pitch, the U’s left it late to earn a vital point against promotion rivals Ipswich. Oxford could have been comfortably ahead by the break but it was the visitors that took the lead in the second half. However, a stoppage-time equaliser from McNally earned an important point. This would be the final game of the month after their trip to Morecambe was postponed due to international call-ups.
Gavin Whyte, Ciaron Brown, Oisin Smyth and Mark Sykes were all called up to represent their countries during the international break. The former better a third goal in a 3-1 victory for Northern Ireland against Luxembourg.
Having scored twice during March, McNally then emerged as a transfer target for Premier League outfit, Tottenham. A report suggested that a rival club have tabled a £2 million bid for the 22-year-old which meant that Spurs have now upped their interest in the defender.
