Aidomo Emakhu slams Oxford United performance vs Barnsley

The Yellows drew 1-1 at Oakwell in a feisty affair which saw both sides receive a red card.

Oxford’s Mark Harris equalised after Vimal Yoganathan opened the scoring, with an early dismissal for Jack Shepherd and a late one for Jamie Cumming meaning both teams ended with 10 men.

Emakhu was introduced at half time, making a positive impact on the wing and creating Harris’ goal.

Reviewing his side’s performance against the Tykes, the Ireland international said: “I think we got sloppy.

“Obviously, when you go to 10 men, I think it’s a time for us to really put the foot down and try to dominate the game, but we didn’t do that.

“We got caught out on the counter-attack, and we conceded the first goal from there, so not a good time.

“We made it hard for ourselves.

“I think we had great enough chances to go and win the game, but it didn’t come.

Emakhu added: “We have to go and win that game, the game that you win.

“Coming out the back of a good win against Stockport, these are the games that you come and back up with.

“We didn’t do that today, and it’s not good enough.

Aidomo Emakhu drives forward on the wing (Image: Steve Daniels)

“I think the only positive thing today is that we’ve come away from the game with something, a point.

“Whether it’s a point gained or two points lost, we don’t know.”

The winger went on to insist that the result was not the fault of head coach Ramsey, saying: “He’s unbelievable.

“Everything he’s done since he’s come in here has been top.

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“I don’t think that game has anything to do with tactics. I think it’s down to us.

“I think they ran harder than us in parts, and they wanted it more than us in parts.

“That game has nothing to do with the manager or tactics.

“It’s just down to us and the personnel.”

With the draw, Oxford remain third in League One, three points from second and five off the top with games in hand.

The fixtures keep coming thick and fast, with the U’s offered the chance to get back to winning ways at home to Thames Valley rivals Reading on Wednesday night.

Despite being disappointed at Saturday’s result in South Yorkshire, United extended their league unbeaten run to nine games.

Emakhu finished: “I think that’s the positive about this league; there’s so many games, and obviously when you drop points and stuff like that, they come thick and fast.

“There’s obviously a chance to correct it, and that’s a chance for us to do it on Wednesday night.”