Oxford united FC
How Oxford United thrashed Russell Martin’s Leicester City
In their 4-0 romp at the King Power Stadium at the weekend, the Yellows were at their “absolute best” – in Ramsey’s own words – taking apart Russell Martin’s rigid Foxes in their own back yard.
Oxford played with a refreshing fluidity and directness not seen from a United side in a while, with the club fighting for survival in the Championship in the last two seasons.
Now back in League One, Ramsey is bringing new ideas to the club and is starting to bring the best out of the tools at his disposal.
The U’s adjusted their formation slightly against Leicester, opting for a 4-3-3 rather than a 4-2-3-1 seen in the first three league matches.
The midfield trio of Cameron Brannagan, Jamie McDonnell and Kai Andrews was a clever, compact but flexible unit that helped inspire all four goals and allowed for incisive wing play.
For Oxford’s first goal, this was evident.
The central trio operated in a triangle within passing range of each other, overloading on the right-hand side as Peter Kioso attempting a first ball in behind Mo Missanga who tried to dart behind.
On this attempt, Foxes left back Christian McFarlane got his head in the way to intercept but United quickly recycled the ball.
Jamie McDonnell, who had his best game for Oxford since joining in January, won the ball back and played a one-two with Kioso to throw off the retreating City press and create time for him to get his head up play the ball through to Missanga who was on the shoulder.
With McFarlane in no man’s land, the 18-year-old gets forward and is able to put the cross in to assist Mark Harris’ opener.
Evidently, the overloads in wide areas in the midfield create space for the wingers to go one-versus-one and run into space.
READ MORE: Mark Harris amongst Oxford United goals in League One revival
READ MORE: Jamie Cumming injury update issued after Oxford United thrash Foxes
For the U’s second goal, the influential midfield rotations were on display.
Here, Brodie Spencer carries the ball inside and, with Siriki Dembele coming slightly in from the left, Andrews makes a brilliant run on the outside, Brannagan and McDonnell holding the fort further back to allow the Coventry City loanee freedom.
Andrews goes on to assist Missanga’s first goal in senior football.
With Leicester all but beaten, the fourth goal showed yet more precision.
Oxford exploited Leicester’s narrow structure, with City huddled on the left side of the pitch, leaving Aston Villa loanee Luka Lynch alone in space on the right.
Tyler Goodrham’s brilliant turn saw him thread Lynch in, the Villa youngster putting the ball on a plate for McDonnell to tap home.
And a word on McDonnell; the Northern Irishman was immense, positionally smart, a monster in the tackle and influential in starting moves from midfield.
Reading-born duo Gatlin O’Donkor and Mo Missanga scored the goals to secure Oxford’s first win over the Royals in 27 years.
The win sees Aaron Ramsey’s men remain third in the league, three points off top spot with a game in hand.
Here is how we rated the Yellows players at the Kassam…
Simon Eastwood – 7.5
Called back into action after Jamie Cumming’s suspension and secured his third clean sheet of the season.
A notable save to stop Jack Marriott and two others kept Reading at bay.
Peter Kioso – 6
Saw less of his lung-busting runs forward as he was tasked with shuffling into a back three on the ball.
Was a bit hit and miss in his duels and was booked.
Michal Helik – 7
Performed well whilst playing through a knock picked up at Barnsley.
Won his aerial duels and even made it all the way to the opposition by-line at one point.
Ciaron Brown – 6.5
A couple of really incisive passes and was strong in the early stages.
A brief scare when he lofted the ball onto his own crossbar.
Jack Currie – 5.5
Struggled to contain the dangerous Kyreece Lisbie at times.
Inverted his position from the left but did not offer too much going forward.
Cameron Brannagan – 9
Absolutely everything needed from the captain in a derby.
Measured aggression, dangerous from set pieces – assisting directly for O’Donkor before whipping in the corner for the second – and brilliant passing whilst covering lots of ground.
Kai Andrews – 7
Some good footwork, neat passing and clever enough fouls to not get booked yet kill Reading’s momentum.
Aidomo Emakhu – 5
His first few touches let him down which set the tone for his performance.
Completed one successful dribble but squandered a big chance to score in the first half.
Tyler Goodrham – 7
Created one big chance and pulled off some nice flicks and neat turns.
Good delivery from set pieces as well.
Siriki Dembele – 7
A slow first half but won fouls in good areas in the second with some driving runs.
Mark Harris – 6
A quiet afternoon but won the free kick which resulted in the opener.
Substitutes:
Mo Missanga (64′) – 7.5
An impressive, instinctive finish for his second professional goal.
Sam Long (67′) – 6
Gatlin O’Donkor (68′) – 8.5
Goal. Assist. Against the team he was released from as a kid.
What more could you want?
Louie Sibley (79′) – N/A
Brodie Spencer (80′) – N/A
As good an impact off the bench as you can get with the crucial first goal and an assist for the second.
Aaron Ramsey’s inspired substitutions saw Reading-born duo Gatlin O’Donkor and Mo Missanga score to put the U’s four points clear of their Thames Valley rivals.
A stalemate first half saw the Royals force saves from Simon Eastwood and Aidomo Emakhu go close before the Yellows found the quality needed to beat Leam Richardson’s side.
The win sees Oxford beat their county neighbours for the first time since 1999 and go 10 league matches unbeaten.
As Oxford grappled for control early on, it was Reading who hit out first, Kyreece Lisbie with a wicked ball across the face of goal which was not met.
Jack Marriott’s swing at goal moments later was cut out by Kai Andrews before Tyler Goodrham ran into trouble in the box after a neat turn.
Marriott tried again with a tame enough bicycle kick for Eastwood to claim.
A neat move from Jack Currie to Goodrham to Siriki Dembele saw the latter slot Emakhu into the box, but the Irishman was unable to compose himself and finish, Joel Pereira coming out to curtail the threat.
Michal Helik had a weak header saved from a free kick, the Royals retaliating later on as Eastwood parried away a Marriott attempt impressively.
Reading started the second half with vigour, hitting the post with a Padhraic O’Connor header, Eastwood stopping a flick at goal from Lisbie with the rebound.
Marriott headed wide from the resulting corner before Oxford picked up the pressure, Cameron Brannagan forcing a save from a powerful free kick on target.
Some strong penalty shouts followed from the home crowd before a scary moment from Ciaron Brown saw the centre back put the ball onto the top of his own crossbar.
Two inspired substitutes sparked Oxford into life, O’Donkor finding the bottom right corner after a clever short ball from Brannagan at a set piece.
Reading’s Jacob Brown struck the crossbar in response before the Yellows captain forced another save with a second thumping free kick.
The U’s then found their second, O’Donkor heading a deep Brannagan corner square to Missanga who swivelling and flicked the ball into the net.
Oxford now comfortable, they remained safe with the ball but with freedom to push for a third but had to settle for two, seeing out a big three points against their rivals from Berkshire.
Yellows: Eastwood, Kioso (Spencer 80), Helik (Long 67), Brown, Currie, Brannagan, Andrews, Goodrham (O’Donkor 68), Emakhu (Missanga 64), Harris (Sibley 79), Dembele
Royals: Pereira, Godwin-Malife, Dorsett, Rinomhota (Savage 84), Roberts, Marriott (Brown 70), Wing, Kyerewaa (Williams 80), O’Connor, Lisbie, Stokes (Reid 70)
Bookings: Kioso, Sibley; Stokes, O’Connor, Lisbie
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