Oxford united FC
Oxford United to kick off pre-season with Aldershot clash
The trip to Aldershot marks United’s opening friendly of the summer schedule, giving Aaron Ramsey his first chance to see his squad in match action since returning from a warm-weather training camp in Spain.
It also offers an opportunity for players and staff to build on the connections Ramsey has stressed will be “really important” on and off the pitch going into the new campaign.
Ramsey, who replaced Matt Bloomfield almost a month ago, has spent the week in Spain embedding his ideas and forging relationships with his new dressing room.
He has spoken of using this period to strengthen links between staff, players and supporters, describing pre-season as a “great opportunity” to lay foundations for the season ahead.
Tonight’s match will also give Oxford fans an early look at Ramsey’s reshaped backroom staff, led by assistant head coach Chris Gunter, the former Wales international right-back.
Gunter is joined by Tom Hutton, previously Cardiff City Under-18s lead coach, as the pair assist Ramsey in navigating a challenging start to his tenure.
Despite the fresh energy around the club, Oxford’s pre-season has already been tested by off-field issues and injury setbacks.
The U’s have been hit with a transfer embargo after failing to meet League One’s Salary Cost Management Protocol, although the club insists it will be in a strong position by the time the January window opens.
On the pitch, Ramsey is already without his sole summer signing, former Hearts defender Frankie Kent, who suffered a serious knee injury in training just weeks after arriving.
Kent, 30, has undergone surgery on an ACL injury and is expected to miss most of the season, with Ramsey admitting he is “gutted” by the setback as the club wish the centre-back a full and speedy recovery.
Oxford united FC
Mark Harris amongst Oxford United goals in League One revival
The Welshman bagged a brace at the King Power Stadium taking his tally to three goals from four games so far this season.
A first of the season for Harris came on the opening day at home to MK Dons, the U’s rescuing a late 2-2 draw thanks to a stoppage-time Ciaron Brown equaliser.
Harris has shown the instincts of a natural goal scorer whilst proving invaluable in his aggression off the ball, overperforming in expected goals (xG) with three from an xG of 1.51.
The 27-year-old maintained his goal scoring form at the King Power after bagging the winning goal there last season in a 2-1 triumph back in January.
“It would be alright, I guess,” the Yellows no.9 replied when jokingly asked if he wished could play at the King Power every week.
Mark Harris celebrates scoring his first against Leicester (Image: Oxford United)
“That’s a top performance from us. Coming away from home against Leicester, everyone knows they’re a good side.
“They were relegated with us last year, they’ve got some good players. But to come here and put a performance on like that – 4-0, clean sheet – what more could you ask for?”
Harris’ first goal of the day came from young Missanga’s cross, the striker getting the beating of the back-tracking Foxes centre back Harry Souttar to be in the perfect place to flick the ball home from close range.
READ MORE: Jamie Cumming injury update issued after Oxford United thrash Foxes
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His second saw Coventry City Kai Andrews play the ball the to feet, Harris’ first touch off putting defender Luke Thomas and allowing space to aim for the bottom left corner with his weaker left foot.
A instinctive first finish followed by a two-touch, composed second showed the striking prowess that the former Cardiff City man can possess at this level.
With his two strikes, the U’s front man outperformed an xG tally of 0.72.
On top of the goal scoring, Harris was relentless and clever in his pressing.
Immediately from kick-off in the second half, his pressure on Souttar helped win the ball in the opposition half with the defender kicking it against his own teammate.
Mark Harris celebrates scoring Oxford winner against Leicester last season (Image: ©Jason Dawson)
It led to a chance in the penalty area for Andrews who was intercepted at the final moment.
“That’s exactly what our gaffer wants,” Harris continued.
“He wants us to get the ball back as quick as possible; I think you can see that from today.
“And then when we get it, he wants us to keep it, control games, create chances.
“It was a good shift, a tough shift; I’m sure we’ll all be a bit sore tomorrow.”
Harris notched 19 goals in his last League One campaign as the U’s were promoted and, after four games, he is well on his way to matching, or even improving on, that tally.
Oxford united FC
Jamie Cumming injury update issued after Oxford United thrash Foxes
The Yellows stormed to a 4-0 victory over Russell Martin’s Foxes on Saturday, Mark Harris with two and Mo Missanga and Jamie McDonnell with a goal each to secure second win of the League One season.
It was a day to remember for many players at the King Power Stadium, with Missanga and McDonnell both notching their first goals for the club, the former on only his second senior start.
Simon Eastwood started the afternoon for a second game running whilst first-choice goalkeeper Jamie Cumming returned to the bench after a groin injury.
Cumming was withdrawn early into the U’s 2-1 win over Stevenage, 37-year-old Eastwood replacing him, and subsequently missed out on a place in the squad for a midweek trip to Huddersfield Town last week which ended in a 3-1 defeat.
After the 27-year-old returned to the bench in the East Midlands, head coach Ramsey offered an update on the no.1 keeper’s status.
“He’s only had one training session with the team,” the Yellows boss disclosed after the win at Leicester.
“So for us, we know how important he is for the team.
“Eastwood did really well last week and for him to come in again today and get that clean sheet is brilliant.
“But now as well, for Jamie’s sake, he’s got a full week of preparation now to really make sure that he’s in a good place now for next week.”
Backup shot-stopper Eastwood secured his first clean sheet in almost three years against the Foxes and the Yellows’ first of the season.
The keeper’s last clean sheet came in December 2023, a 1-0 win at Forest Green Rovers in the EFL trophy.
Eastwood, who has been at the club since 2016, has performed well whilst standing in in-between the sticks.
Despite losing against Huddersfield, the former Terrier did all he could and made five saves at the Accu Stadium.
The Englishman then managed four against Leicester, with a statistic of 0.6 goals prevented according to Sofascore.
His colleague Cumming played every minute of last season’s league campaign which saw United relegated from the Championship under Gary Rowett and then Matt Bloomfield.
The former Chelsea man kept eight clean sheets for a struggling U’s side last term.
His last campaign in League One was in the U’s promotion season of 2023/24 where he joined in January on a six-month loan.
Cumming made 23 league and play-off appearances in that time and managed seven clean sheets, including in the 2-0 play-off final win at Wembley against Bolton Wanderers.
Oxford united FC
Wycombe Wanderers sack Michael Duff in first EFL casualty
The Chairboys are in 23rd place with only three points, having drawn three and lost two of their opening five games.
First-team coach Alex Morris has also departed the club.
The 48-year-old boss had been in charge for nearly a year.
The former Barnsley, Swansea City and Huddersfield Town manager replaced former Oxford assistant Mike Dodds last September after a bad start to the previous campaign
Despite a recovery that saw them finish in the top half of the table, Duff has now become the first managerial casualty of the campaign in the top four divisions.
READ MORE: Jamie Cumming injury update issued after Oxford United thrash Foxes
READ MORE: Two Oxford United fixtures postponed due to international break
A club statement said: “The appointment of an interim head coach will follow later today.
“The club has made the decision in light of a disappointing run of results since the spring and believes the time is right to take a new direction.”
Wycombe’s sole victory in their past 13 games came against Rotherham on the final day of last season.
This includes the Carabao Cup defeat by Stevenage and the Vertu Trophy draw at Reading.
Oxford United are set to play Wycombe for the first time in over two years on November 21 at the Kassam Stadium, with the return fixture at Adams Park in March.
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