Oxford united FC
Chris Gunter excited by ‘fresh start’ at Oxford United
United beat League Two side Barnet 2-1 at The Hive, Stan Mills opening the scoring after three minutes before Adam Senior equalised in the second half.
A late winner eventually came from Gatlin O’Donkor who bagged his second goal in as many games after putting his side ahead in a 3-1 win over Aldershot Town on Tuesday.
Speaking after the game, assistant coach Gunter says he is feeling good ahead of the new League One season.
“Since we’ve come in, I’ve felt a real positivity and excitement and that may take a little bit longer to creep into the supporters,” the former defender said.
“This manager and what we’re looking for is a completely fresh start. It’s an opportunity for everybody.
“I think the things that the manager wants really suit certain players. I think there’s been some performances over the last two games, and definitely in the weeks of pre-season, where everybody is putting their best foot forward and making it as difficult as possible for when [Ramsey] is picking that team ready for the first game.”
Returning to the Yellows fold was last season’s Players’ and Supporters’ Player of the Year, Mills, who bagged with his first touch of pre-season after missing out against Aldershot and the squad’s warm-weather camp in Spain.
“He’s made an impact straight away,” Gunter continued.
“He’s had a difficult couple of weeks in terms of he was ill and he missed the pre-season trip, and then he’s come back in and worked really hard.
“He’s got his first minutes today, and it was a dream start for him and us in terms of this pre-season.
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“That’s the type of quality that he has. Like I say, our job and the team’s job is to get him into those positions as much as possible.
“So I’m really pleased, and the most important thing from Stan’s point of view is physically, he needs minutes in his legs, which he’s not got.”
Also impressing this summer is O’Donkor who has a couple of goals to his name as he looks to compete with Mark Harris for a starting place up front.
“I think he’s got some rewards for that over the last couple of games.
“He’s mirrored, and we’ll probably only speak about him because he’s scored, but he has mirrored every single player.”
The U’s are halfway through their pre-season fixture schedule with two wins so far and face Crawley Town on Tuesday evening as they return to the Kassam Stadium.
The 32-year-old midfielder joined United in 2024 and played 88 games for the club, scoring two goals.
His last goal for the club came in the final home game of last season, a 4-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday.
On 14 January 2025, he scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 league draw away against Plymouth Argyle.
He will now join Tranmere who are in League Two.
The Wales international did not make any senior appearances for Tranmere in his first spell but has signed a two-year deal with the club.
The U’s are in the midst of a temporary transfer embargo and will not currently be able to replace the midfielder.
As well as his contributions on the pitch, Vaulks was also a pioneer in the Oxfordshire community, using his personal story to establish the award-winning Can We Talk? suicide prevention campaign.
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He introduced a suicide prevention check-in app for staff, delivered training to employees and supporters, and led workshops across the county, including at RAF Brize Norton.
He was nationally and internationally recognised for his campaigning, winning awards including the FIFPRO Player Voice and was recently named PFA Community Player of the Year.
Vaulks made seven appearances for Wales, his most recent coming in a 1-1 draw with Czechia in 2022.
Oxford United begin their League One campaign next week with a home clash against MK Dons after suffering relegation from the second tier last season.
The U’s defeated Ipswich Town in their final pre-season friendly on Saturday to secure four wins from their four friendly fixtures.
Currie scored the opener, converting Tyler Goodrham’s ball across before Stan Mills dispossessed David Button in goal and swept the ball into an open net to double the score.
Oxford look ahead to their first competitive fixture this coming Saturday, a Carabao Cup clash with third-tier rivals Leyton Orient before the new League One season commences a week later.
Ipswich were the first team above United in the English football pyramid that Ramsey’s men played, beating lower-league opponents Aldershot Town of the National League as well as League Two clubs Barnet and Crawley Town in the three games prior.
“We’ve had games this pre-season that have challenged us in multiple ways, with the physicality of Barnet and then the technical quality of Ipswich,” Currie observed after the victory over the Tractor Boys.
“I think what’s really important for us is that we’re versatile, like we have been, and we can change things up when we need to, and we’ll be enjoying football.
“I think the bottom line of it is they’re a Prem team, so whoever they put out are Prem quality players, and that just shows the quality we do have with everyone.
“I’m just very glad we can put what we want into the game, and we can give the fans something to be excited for.
“We all knew exactly how we wanted to set up and we were excited. Everyone really enjoyed the way we were playing.
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“We got set up nicely by the gaffer and the staff. I think the main thing was that we implemented it. We weren’t nervous in the ball or anything.”
New head coach Ramsey has seemed to have had an inspiring influence on the U’s squad, bringing in top-level experience after a stellar playing career with giants like Arsenal and Juventus.
Former Cardiff City, Reading and Wales full back Chris Gunter followed Ramsey to OX4 as his assistant.
“He’s come in with fresh ideas, fresh ways of playing that I think suit the boys a little bit better, so it’s important that we do put them on the pitch and keep enjoying our football like we did today.
“Even [assistant head coach] Chris Gunter as a full back myself. You look at these players and you think that’s the career you want to have.
“They’ve both had unbelievable careers.
“They’ve got an incredible buy-in from everyone around the club. And it’s a really nice buzz, especially with the wins in pre-season.”
The 22-year-old bagged the second goal in a 2-0 win over the Tractor Boys at the Kassam Stadium after Jack Currie opened the scoring earlier in the second half.
The win meant that Oxford took a perfect record away from pre-season with four wins from all four fixtures.
Mills’ goal was his second in three friendly appearances after scoring three minutes into the 2-1 win at Barnet earlier in the summer.
After being named United’s Players’ and Supporters’ Player of the Season last year, Ramsey reiterated the winger’s importance.
“Obviously, Stan is really important with what we’re trying to achieve here,” the Yellows boss said after the Ipswich victory.
“And him closing the keeper down and winning the ball back and things is very good.
“You can score the worldie goals as well, but that’s just as important.”
Pressure at the top end of the pitch has epitomised how Ramsey’s United have looked in their four matches under his tutelage.
The 35-year-old’s style has, so far, brought results with the team scoring 10 goals and conceding three in their pre-season fixtures.
“The demands that we put on the boys are really high and, physically, they need to be able to deal with that.
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“Pressing is one of the things that we try and do.
“We want to be able to win the ball back high up the pitch, where ultimately we’re closer to the goal to score.
“I want to be on the front foot, being able to control the game, be exciting, score goals.
“But there’s a lot of things that need to happen for that to align.
“So without the ball as well in how we look. And then pressing triggers, that compactness.
“All of these things ultimately define if you are capable of playing that way.
“We need to nail them things first.
“We’re very demanding,” the former Arsenal midfielder emphasised.
“We’re giving them a lot of detail, but they’ve taken it all on really well.
“And you can see, over the course of the game today, they come out on so many different occasions.
“It’s all about gaining our confidence.
“We did play a really strong opposition there today, they’re in the Premier League, so have some really good players.
“Even though it is pre-season, we can’t underestimate what we can take out of that.
“Hopefully now that gives our players a lot of confidence going forward into the season.”
Oxford begin their season next this week with a Carabao Cup visit to League One rivals Leyton Orient on Saturday.
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