Aaron Ramsey emphasises importance of Oxford United’s Stan Mills

The 22-year-old bagged the second goal in a 2-0 win over the Tractor Boys at the Kassam Stadium after Jack Currie opened the scoring earlier in the second half.

The win meant that Oxford took a perfect record away from pre-season with four wins from all four fixtures.

Mills’ goal was his second in three friendly appearances after scoring three minutes into the 2-1 win at Barnet earlier in the summer.

After being named United’s Players’ and Supporters’ Player of the Season last year, Ramsey reiterated the winger’s importance.

“Obviously, Stan is really important with what we’re trying to achieve here,” the Yellows boss said after the Ipswich victory.

“And him closing the keeper down and winning the ball back and things is very good.

Stan Mills scored Oxford United’s second goal against Ipswich (Image: Oxford United)

“You can score the worldie goals as well, but that’s just as important.”

Pressure at the top end of the pitch has epitomised how Ramsey’s United have looked in their four matches under his tutelage.

The 35-year-old’s style has, so far, brought results with the team scoring 10 goals and conceding three in their pre-season fixtures.

“The demands that we put on the boys are really high and, physically, they need to be able to deal with that.

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“Pressing is one of the things that we try and do.

“We want to be able to win the ball back high up the pitch, where ultimately we’re closer to the goal to score.

“I want to be on the front foot, being able to control the game, be exciting, score goals.

“But there’s a lot of things that need to happen for that to align.

“So without the ball as well in how we look. And then pressing triggers, that compactness.

“All of these things ultimately define if you are capable of playing that way.

 “We need to nail them things first.

“We’re very demanding,” the former Arsenal midfielder emphasised.

Aaron Ramsey takes charge of Oxford United (Image: Oxford United)

“We’re giving them a lot of detail, but they’ve taken it all on really well.

“And you can see, over the course of the game today, they come out on so many different occasions.

“It’s all about gaining our confidence.

“We did play a really strong opposition there today, they’re in the Premier League, so have some really good players.

“Even though it is pre-season, we can’t underestimate what we can take out of that.

“Hopefully now that gives our players a lot of confidence going forward into the season.”

Oxford begin their season next this week with a Carabao Cup visit to League One rivals Leyton Orient on Saturday.