Front Three
Mide Shodipo
Signed on the summer deadline day, Mide Shodipo appeared a bit of a panic signing initially. With the potential return of Marcus Browne falling through, Oxford needed a winger. Fortunately, Shodipo stepped up and has performed well across the season.
Arriving on deadline day, Shodipo missed the first nine games of the season, which saw Oxford lose five and get knocked out of both cup competitions. However, the winger netted the winner on his debut as Oxford beat MK Dons 3-2.
It wasn’t the only winning goal he scored. The QPR man also added important strikes in a 3-2 win at Plymouth and 4-3 success at Rochdale, with both goals coming late on in the game. Shodipo also netted a brace at Burton as he ended the campaign with ten league goals.
While the addition of Brandon Barker affected his game time from January, it’s unlikely the U’s would have achieved a top-six finish if it wasn’t for his important goals.
Elliot Lee
As mentioned, Brandon Barker’s arrival in January was also important as the Rangers man scored three and added four assists. However, it was another deadline day signing that fills the other spot on the wing.
Elliot Lee also arrived at Oxford in January, but the Luton Town man seemed to have a more fitting impact. While Barker may have scored in the win over Swindon, Lee added six goals and three assists from just 18 league outings.
Those three assists and four of his strikes all came in the final eight games of the season, helping the U’s cement a top-six finish, while one of his other efforts was a last-minute equaliser at MK Dons, earning what proved to be a vital point.
Where Barker showed inconsistencies at times, Lee looked the complete player and performed at the same level when on the right of midfield or the middle.
Matty Taylor
Completing the line-up is the club’s top scorer, Matty Taylor. Having notched 17 while on loan last season, Taylor upped his tally by two this year.
He may have played more games this season, but the 31-year-old was also heavily relied upon with injuries to Sam Winnall leaving him as the only recognised striker.
But, Taylor did what he does best. A brace at Accrington set the ball rolling before he scored in narrow wins against MK Dons and Wigan respectively.
Although he netted in the loss against rivals Swindon, Taylor then scored six goals in five winning games with braces against Northampton and Bristol Rovers either side of AFC Wimbledon and Burton.
Taylor then hit a slight goal drought but netted on his 13th game without a strike with a brace against Doncaster. He would add a further five before the end of the regular season and scored on his 100th Oxford appearance in the play-off semi-final second leg against Blackpool.
