Biggest reasons for Oxford United’s Championship relegation

Matt Bloomfield’s U’s had their status in League One confirmed for next season before their penultimate game of the season, a 4-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday.

At times this season, it had looked like The Yellows were completely doomed, but a late run of just one defeat in eight games meant hope had started to gather once more.

Two 1-0 defeats to Derby County and Wrexham were dagger blows to said hopes and ultimately, along with results elsewhere, condemned Oxford to a return to third-tier football next year.

So, what were the defining reasons for United’s demotion?

Indonesia tour

There is no getting away from the impact that The U’s tour of Indonesia in pre-season had on the campaign.

Former head coach Gary Rowett said at the time that the tour meant United were playing games too soon, leading to injuries and leaving the team behind schedule with only three weeks left of pre-season upon their return.

Oxford United fans made the trip to Indonesia (Image: Karisa Aurelia Tukan/ Media Piala Presiden)

Oxford went on to lose their opening Championship fixture 1-0 at home to Portsmouth and were winless in their first five games of the season.

Summer recruitment

Oxford brought in seven new faces last summer – two permanently and five on loan – which were varied in success.

The two permanent transfers, Brodie Spencer and Brian De Keersmaecker, can both be considered successes, despite the latter missing the final three months of the season after surgery.

Only one loan player can be judged a true success, though, in top scorer and double end of season award-winning Will Lankshear.

Nik Prelec has been signed permanently and shown small signs despite scoring only one goal and failing to lock down a starting berth whilst suffering a few injuries.

Luke Harris and Filip Krastev were below the level needed and both returned to their parent clubs in January.

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Filip Krastev in action for Oxford United against Sheffield Wednesday (Image: Mike Allen)

Ultimately, Oxford did not have enough quality from their summer additions and that, coupled with the impact of Indonesia, led to a poor first half of the campaign under Rowett.

Delaying the inevitable

Hindsight is a wonderful but painful thing.

The league table since Bloomfield’s appointment prior to match week 27 sees The U’s comfortably in 13th place with six win, seven draws, and seven defeats.

Under Rowett was when United were in relegation form, 23rd and eight points from safety upon his dismissal.

Had Oxford moved earlier then survival could very well have been achieved, and comfortably at that.

The former boss was sacked after a 1-0 defeat to Charlton Athletic which concluded a streak of only one win in 10 games.

Former Oxford United head coach Gary Rowett (Image: Mike Allen)

That game was the first time chants criticising Rowett could be heard which is likely a factor in the club dismissing him three days later.

The club’s hand could, and should, have been forced at least a game earlier following a 2-1 defeat to Preston North End.

A poor showing away at Norwich City in November where Krastev stole a late 1-1 draw could have been an earlier justified point to sack Rowett, as could the 2-0 away defeat at Swansea City in early December.

Points go begging

Now, yes, obviously the reason United were relegated was because they failed to pick up enough points.

It is the manner of which some points were dropped that really make the difference, though, especially when looking at some of the later matches in the season.

The Easter weekend was agonising, and even more so in hindsight.

Bloomfield’s men were the better side against play-off achieving Hull City.

An early setback saw The U’s trail 1-0 after four minutes, but they hit back with a Cameron Brannagan penalty less than 10 minutes later.

The Yellows then went on to have good chances to win it, and arguably should have, Michal Helik and Mark Harris both seeing efforts missed from close range.

Will Lankshear celebrates Brodie Spencer’s goal for Oxford United against Portsmouth (Image: Oxford United)

Three days later, the team failed to hold on to a lead against 10-man Portsmouth, conceding in the 87th-minute equaliser not long after Lankshear had seemingly scored the winner.

Six possible points became only two.

Only a few weeks earlier, The U’s had dropped another two points against relegation rivals Charlton who went on to finish five points above Oxford in 18th.

Charlton Athletic’s Charlie Kelman celebrates scoring the equaliser against Oxford United (Image: Steven Paston/PA Wire)

Ciaron Brown tugged the shirt of Lloyd Jones to concede a penalty in stoppage time which Charlie Kelman then tucked away.

These moments might not seem like much, but those examples have seen a crucial six points in total go begging.

Moments like these at crucial points of the season are ultimately what separate a Championship side from one destined for League One.

Having highlighted these faults, there is cause for optimism looking forward.

In Bloomfield, there is a manager at the helm who has succeeded in League One before, at Wycombe Wanderers before his move to Luton Town.

There is a strong core of contracted players with a mix of youth and experience whilst the third tier is void of a clear dominant one or two teams such as Birmingham City or Wrexham in recent years.

This season has frustrated in many ways but as things stand – and, yes, there is clear work to be done – Oxford look well-poised to bounce back.