Chris Gunter details Oxford United tactical adjustments

The U’s drew 2-2 against Exeter City in the cup before missing out on an extra point with a 4-3 penalty shootout defeat at St James Park.

Young midfielder Harrison Bradney scored the Yellows’ first goal before Jack Fitzwater steered the ball into his own net with 12 minutes of the match left.

The game was Oxford’s first in 17 days after an extended international break in which four players left to play for their nations, two for Northern Ireland and two for Wales.

Aaron Ramsey’s side return to League One action with an away trip to Notts County on Saturday.

“I thought it was an entertaining game from a neutral point of view,” Gunter detailed after the Exeter draw.

“It was a good start in terms of a couple of weeks without a game, going ahead now into the league fixture as well.

Oxford United winger Aidan Elliott-Wheeler in action against Exeter City (Image: Oxford United)

“We’re off and running in the competition, which we want to do well and I thought the approach to the game leading into it was right.”

The U’s rotated for their EFL Trophy clash, with five names gaining their first starts of the season.

Two of those were Aston Villa loanee Luka Lynch and academy product Aidan Elliott-Wheeler who were positioned on the right flank together in the first half.

Ramsey and his coaches made some interesting tactical rotations, allowing right back Elliott-Wheeler to stay high and wide whilst Lynch drifted centrally in behind the striker during Oxford’s build up.

The duo were also seen doing the opposite, with the Villa loanee out wide and the U’s youngster coming inside.

Games like these where the stakes are slightly lower and personnel has been changed provide good opportunity to try some new ideas, which Gunter expanded on.

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“No two games for us have really looked the same in terms of the profiles of who we have on the pitch [and] the opposition.

“So there’s always sort of slight tweaks in that.

“There was an opportunity today where we animated at times with the ball in a slightly different way.

“In the first half, it can be a little bit more congested and easier for the opposition to sort of track those forward runs.

“In terms of building relationships, it would have been a new one today on the right-hand side with Aiden and Luka and getting to know and understand each other and what we want from them.

“They’ll only be better for that.

“Part of our strength this season has been sort of how fluid we are within a structure and it makes it really difficult for the opposition.

“When it’s done well, it can look like it did for the last 45 minutes; creating chances, controlling the game, dominating it.”