Oxford united FC
Aaron Ramsey explains Brannagan and Brown Oxford United absence
The U’s could only manage a 1-1 draw at Oakwell despite playing against 10 men for the majority of the game.
Barnsley’s Jack Shepherd was sent off after nine minutes before the disadvantaged hosts took the lead through Vimal Roganathan.
Mark Harris equalised in the second half but Jamie Cumming saw red in the final two minutes for a challenge on Rylan Brownlie.
Experienced duo Brown and Brannagan were missing from the squad entirely in South Yorkshire for different reason.
Explaining their omissions, Ramsey said: “Both of them have had real high spikes in their loads over the last week.
“Some of the data and some of the running stats from the games were through the roof.
“They’ve hit some real big PBs in there, some spring distances.
“That was part of the decision. But Brownie as well had a bit of an illness going into the last game.
“And we know how illnesses affect little muscular injuries as well.
“They’re both so important for us and the way that we want to play.
“All of these bits of information that we have and the data and the illness and that, they have to be considered and they are red flags at times.
“So for me to make that decision was the right one and I’ll try to get them back now before the next game.”
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Oxford were left downbeat after the draw at Oakwell, feeling as though it was game that they should have won.
A poor first half saw the U’s dominate possession but concede the opener before failing to put away more than one of their 35 shots on goal.
Ramsey relayed his dissatisfaction, saying: “There were bits that I liked and some bits that I didn’t quite like, but obviously very disappointed and frustrated because it was a good opportunity there for us today.
“We did create a few chances and just couldn’t quite [find] that final pass or that final decision to really punish them.
“We’re always demanding more, so we needed to do more in this game today to come away with the three points.”
Touching on the impact of the Tykes’ early red card, Ramsey continued: “The perception is that it should be easy from here on and it’s far from that sometimes when they are in such a low block.
“That was the bit for me today, which was a bit frustrating, was those transitional moments and how we can control them a lot better.
“Once we’ve got that extra man, we really need to make that count and really control the game in their half of the field.
“And there were a couple of moments there where they did manage the break on us.”
Thames Valley Police has confirmed that Aiden Murray, 23, of Little Bury, Oxford, has been charged with one count of breaching a Football Banning Order. He has been bailed to appear at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on 14 January 2027.
The police force has also confirmed that a 19-year-old man from Wokingham was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after damage was caused to a bus. He has since been released on conditional bail.
A 16-year-old boy from Reading was also arrested on suspicion of a Section 5 Public Order Act offence and failing to provide details under Section 50 of the Police Reform Act. He has been released on bail pending further enquiries.
Thames Valley Police has also confirmed that there were 19 Section 35 dispersals issued in Reading and Oxford, four of which were issued by British Transport Police.
Whilst Section 60AA powers were used to require individuals to remove face coverings. All individuals complied with officers’ requests and, as such, no breaches were recorded.
A Section 35 order gives police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) the power to direct individuals causing, or likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to leave a specified area.
A Section 60AA order gives uniformed officers the power to require any person to remove items worn wholly or mainly to conceal their identity, such as face coverings, and to seize any item they reasonably believe is intended for that purpose.
The U’s away match at Wigan Athletic has been delayed by 24 hours and will now be played on January 20, with an 8pm kick-off. It will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event.
The return Thames Valley Derby against Reading, scheduled for February 6, will start at 12.30pm.
United’s home fixture against Luton Town on February 27 will also be shown on television and will kick off at 12.30pm.
The U’s are third in the League One table and have gone 10 games unbeaten. They beat Thames Valley rivals Reading 2-0 on Wednesday night.
Broadcast selections for March 5-8, 2027, will be announced by February 5, with weekly announcements then covering four weeks ahead.
Cumming was left out of the squad due to suspension as Oxford beat Thames Valley rivals Reading 2-0 in League One, whilst Helik was forced off in the second half with an injury.
The win saw Reading-born duo Gatlin O’Donkor and Mo Missanga score at the Kassam Stadium to extend the Yellows’ league unbeaten run to 10 games.
U’s goalkeeper Cumming was not available in midweek after being sent off in the final minutes against Barnsley last weekend.
The club had appealed against the red card, with Ramsey providing an update after the match: “They said the decision was the same as the ref’s decision, and they didn’t want to change it.
“So, look, it is what it is. We have to deal with it.
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“And then, look, it gives opportunity again for Simon Eastwood to come in and have another solid performance with a clean sheet.
“So, we have players who are ready.”
Cumming will see out a three-game suspension, with it understood that he will miss the weekend’s FA Cup clash with Stevenage but will be available in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy against Cheltenham Town.
The United boss also opened up on the injury to Helik, saying: “He had a knock on his knee from the last match [against Barnsley].
“He’s done well to get through the minutes that he did tonight.
“He felt it a little bit, but no risk taken there.
“So, an opportunity now for him to recover a little bit before the league starts up again.
“We’ll assess him. We’ll see how he responds over the next few days.”
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