With the football season done and dusted for another year, we take you back through the highs and lows of the campaign:
Ryan Williams became the first summer signing before the U’s lost Josh Ruffels and Rob Atkinson to Huddersfield and Bristol City respectively.
Sean Clare was the next player to leave as the defender joined Charlton after just one season at Grenoble Road before Steve Seddon and Billy Bodin joined the club from Birmingham and Preston respectively.
There was then a return for two former players as Nathan Holland and Gavin Whyte arrived on loan from West Ham and Cardiff respectively. The U’s bolstered their defensive options with the addition of Jordan Thorniley on loan from Blackpool.
On the pitch, the U’s made an uncharacteristically strong start to the new season. Despite an opening day draw at newly-promoted Cambridge, Oxford then progressed to the second round of the Carabao Cup with victory over Burton and a first league win of the campaign at home to Charlton.
Robinson’s side then suffered a first loss of the season away at Bolton before falling to QPR in the second round of the Carabao Cup at Loftus Road.
The U’s picked up a win over Lincoln before Herbie Kane joined on loan from Barnsley and youngster Ben Davis arrived from Fulham.
However, the search for an away win continued with losses at AFC Wimbledon and Cheltenham either side of a home draw against Wycombe.
Oxford picked up four points from their next two home games against Gillingham and Accrington before securing a first win on the road at Sheffield Wednesday.
Having secured a first maximum on their travels, the U’s would then lose their unbeaten home record with defeat against Plymouth, but Oxford bounced back with wins over Shrewsbury, Burton and Morecambe.
Off the field, news began to emerge about plans for a site of a potential new stadium – something which would rumble on through the season.
The U’s were then held at home in the first round of the FA Cup against Bristol Rovers – a match which put an end to Alex Rodriguez Gorrin’s season through injury.
Oxford then drew at home with Ipswich before losing 4-3 against the Gas in the FA Cup replay, despite leading 3-1 in extra time.
A run of five games unbeaten followed, which consisted of wins over Fleetwood, Doncaster and MK Dons along with draws against Rotherham Sunderland.
That run was ended at home against eventual League One winners Wigan but they bounced back with all three points against AFC Wimbledon.
The club confirmed that Herbie Kane would stay until the end of the season before a 1-1 draw against Cheltenham. Kane was then sent off in a defeat against Lincoln, which was followed up by a loss away at Wycombe.
With the transfer window open, Oxford rejected a bid from Blackpool for Cameron Brannagan, Mark Sykes was targeted by Huddersfield and Jermain Defoe ‘held talks‘ with the club. Thorniley was recalled from his loan spell after the club rejected an approach for Brannagan from the Seasiders.
Joel Cooper was then loaned out to Port Vale before Dan Agyei joined Crewe on a permanent deal.
Back on the pitch, Oxford won in dramatic style at home against Sheffield Wednesday before striking seven on the road at Gillingham.
Marcus Browne was the next former player to return, but this time joining on a permanent basis from Middlesbrough. Midfielder Oisin Smyth and defender Ciaron Brown also joined the U’s on deadline day before a 1-1 draw at Wigan.
Despite the transfer window being closed, Robinson signed out of contract striker Sam Baldock ahead of an entertaining win over Portsmouth. However, the U’s then fell to defeats against Accrington and Bolton before picking up six points on the road at Charlton and Crewe.
Defeat at Fratton Park came in the middle of home wins against Cambridge and Burton before the U’s won at Shrewsbury and drew at home against Ipswich.
Then came the season-defining run. Oxford lost at Plymouth and Morecambe before falling to a late loss at home against Sunderland. The results saw Robinson’s side drop out of the top six.
Wins over Fleetwood and MK Dons kept the season alive but defeat at Rotherham on the penultimate weekend ended their chances of another playoff run. A draw against Doncaster ended the regular season.
In terms of players, Brannagan scooped all the accolades at the end of season awards evening, claiming the Supporters’ Player of the Year trophy, the Players’ Player of the Year and the Goal of the Season for his goal against Portsmouth. Meanwhile, James Golding picked up the Young Player of the Year ahead of making his full debut against Donny on the final day of the season.
Matty Taylor once against picked up the golden boot with 22 goals in all competitions (20 in the league). Brannagan scored a career-high 14 while Sykes added eight. Bodin and James Henry, who both had injury struggles throughout the season, scored seven each, with Luke McNally the highest scoring defender on four.
Whyte laid on ten assists with Sykes contributing eight. Holland and Williams also added seven each while Kane laid on six and Seddon and Bodin both provided five.
Like last season, the club lost one of its former favourites following the passing of Joey Beauchamp. The Oxford-born winger died aged just 50-years-old.
