Oxford United bowed out of the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 defeat at home against Premier League outfit Crystal Palace.
As a result, the U’s have won just one of their opening seven matches in all competitions.
Here are three talking points from the game.
Line-Up and Formation
With eight first-team players out injured, the starting line-up and formation was always going to be an unknown.
Ed McGinty returned in goal after making his debut in the previous round against Swansea but Karl Robinson selected a back three of Ciaron Brown, 37-year-old John Mousinho and Sam Long.
Steve Seddon and youngster James Golding were the wing-backs with another youngster in Josh Johnson starting alongside Cameron Brannagan and Lewis Bate in midfield.
Billy Bodin started in a front two alongside Gatlin O’Donkor.
Lack of Depth
Not only were there some surprise selections but the bench clearly lacked depth. Yoav Sade was selected, while the seemingly out-of-favour January signing Oisin Smyth and recent arrival Jodi Jones – who was playing Championship football just last season – were also named among the subs.
Of course, Oxford need to get to winning ways in the league and resting key players (Stuart Findlay in this case) is important, but Mousinho at 37 shouldn’t really be playing.
The same applies to right-back. The club have no cover for Long following Anthony Forde’s departure yet youngster Golding has been made to fill the role.
In attack, Bodin clearly struggled up top against the Swans but he was chosen ahead of Kyle Joseph and Matty Taylor to partner another youngster in O’Donkor.
That said, the young players put in a resilient display, as they have done on previous occasions when called upon, but they are only in that position due to several first-team players out.
Discipline
Oxford picked up six yellow cards in this game, but this is also a recurring theme that has crept in this season.
In the league, the U’s have already accumulated 13 bookings from just five matches, with Seddon and midfielder Marcus Browne already racking up three each.
Many of these bookings are down to frustration, but where could this stem from?
