Oxford united FC
Oxford United find ‘perfect balance’ in Leicester City win
Well, certainly not in a positive sense.
To a man, including the jubilant away support, Oxford were magnificent on Saturday afternoon.
It had every ingredient of a perfect away performance; energy, organisation, confidence, speed, conviction and relentless hard work.
From the first minute Aaron Ramsey’s side were a joy to watch and a beast that Leicester City simply couldn’t handle.
The yellows struck the perfect balance between control with and without the ball, knowing when to build patiently and when to cause a threat on the turnover, while also showing the composure and calmness to take the chances when they came.
Ramsey’s midfield selection was instrumental to all of United’s successes at the King Power.
Jamie McDonnell’s role in screening the back four and sweeping up danger allowed Cameron Brannagan to control proceedings with his expansive passing range, while Kai Andrews’ athleticism and power allowed him to cover immense ground, find pockets of space and make some outstanding channel runs in behind the opposition backline.
All three roles suited their best attributes, and Oxford reaped the rewards.
READ MORE: How incisive Oxford United tore apart rigid Leicester in four-goal thrashing
READ MORE: Mark Harris amongst Oxford United goals in League One revival
And a word on Mo Missanga. Super Mo Missanga.
The Yellows’ summer registration embargo meant any new faces, bar the eventual short-term loans, were only going to come from one place.
Ramsey has mentioned on numerous occasions how he spotted Mo in an academy fixture during one of his first visits, and on Saturday afternoon, that raw, fearless and vibrant talent was there for everybody to see.
His role in Oxford’s opener was only the start of a rather breathtaking second league start.
First, the speed and intelligence to make the run in behind, and then the composure and quality of the delivery into the box for Mark Harris to attack.
But all eyes were on Missanga in the 57th minute when his bursting run allowed him to get onto the end of a pass from Andrews.
The conviction and calmness in front of goal was a joy to watch, nearly as much of a joy as seeing a local lad from the club’s academy system celebrating with 2,000 travelling fans after putting his football club two goals ahead at the home of the former Premier League champions.
From Simon Eastwood’s first clean sheet in three years, McDonnell’s first goal and best performance in an Oxford shirt, Missanga’s first professional goal and Harris’ first Oxford brace since we travelled to Burton Albion in 2024, you could say it was a memorable trip for more reasons than just one.
If a display as complete as that can’t breed confidence, nothing will.
With two home games next, more of the same would do just fine.
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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