Oxford united FC
Brodie Spencer relishing Oxford United’s League One position
The U’s go into the game third in the division after an eight-game unbeaten run, defeating second-placed Stockport County last time out.
Aaron Ramsey’s men have truly established themselves as a top side in the third tier with only one defeat in their first 11 games with at least one game in hand on many of the other clubs in the league.
The midweek victory over the Hatters saw them climb from seventh to third, making it impossible to ignore their recent stellar form.
Spencer has played a key part in the team’s success, performing well in a rotated Yellows side having started seven of those 11 matches playing at both left back and right back.
The 22-year-old said: “I think you would rather have the team getting chased than trying to chase.
“So to be up there now is about just maintaining that and trying to stay in the fight come the end of the season.
“We knew it was going to be important to do that (beat Stockport).
“To try and establish ourselves in the league and show that we can compete with every team, which I think we were able to do.
“That was very good and positive from us.”
The Northern Ireland international added: “I think we have quite a confident group.
“The results and performances just enhance that feeling.
“We all believe in each other, how good we are.
“The managers give us that freedom to express ourselves and show what we’re about.”
Spencer is no stranger to next opponents Barnsley having played at Oakwell for his previous club Huddersfield Town.
He said: “We know it’s going to be a tough one. I have played there before.
“When I was at Huddersfield, I know it’s a very tough ground to go to.
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“You’re not going to go there and just roll them over; they’re going to fight, they’re going to stand up the way we fought them.
The full back continued: “You have a team that down there at the start can sometimes be in the playoffs or pushing for automatic promotion by the end of the season.
“It’s about just taking every game as it comes and showing every team the respect it deserves.”
Spencer concluded: “We know how demanding this league is.
“You’re not going to have it all your own way.
“You come against a lot of different teams who play different ways and you’re going to face different challenges.
“It’s all just about sticking together and knowing that if we all fight for each other, we will get through those hard spells.”
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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