Oxford united FC
Oxford United beat Premier League foes Ipswich in pre-season finale
The Yellows rounded out a perfect pre-season with a clean sheet and comfortable win over the Tractor Boys, Jack Currie and Stan Mills scoring the goals.
Aaron Ramsey’s blueprint was on display throughout, Oxford remaining calm, composed and positive in their play to secure a fourth win from four summer friendlies.
It was a bright start from the U’s as they applied early pressure onto Gary O’Neil’s side.
Jamie McDonnell had the first effort on goal, putting Currie’s low ball into the box wide of the mark under some pressure.
Brodie Spencer thwarted a potential threat at the other end with a sweet tackle on Kasey McAteer.
Oxford showed the fruits of Ramsey’s teachings across the afternoon, evading danger under pressure and creating their own at the other end of the pitch.
It was Ipswich who threatened again however, Jack Clarke forcing a save with a low shot straight at Jamie Cumming.
The Yellows then troubled the goalkeeper themselves, Currie finding Mills with a cross whose shot fell to Mark Harris, the striker shooting first time at Kayne van Oevelen in net.
Former Ajax and Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom went searching for a penalty after making a run into the box which the referee rightfully denied.
Ipswich had the final chance of the half with a blocked header following a corner before the whistle blew with the game goalless.
United were hit with a huge scare after the break, a cross deflecting off Sam Long and onto the crossbar with Wes Burns putting the follow-up into the side netting.
McAteer tried then to find the bottom corner but put his shot wide.
The tied soon turned however, Cameron Brannagan seeing an effort blocked before Goodrham saw his own shot deflected wide.
That pair each saw an effort fly just over the crossbar as Oxford then found the breakthrough.
Goodrham’s run into the box saw him pick out Currie in the centre who tapped into an open net.
Another Goodrham effort deflected and bounced wide before Brannagan had one blocked from a corner.
Mills doubled the lead moments later, pick-pocketing substitute goalkeeper David Button and slotting into another open goal.
Siriki Dembele found the goalkeeper’s arms as Oxford continued positively, Cumming tipping over a dipping Sindre Walle Egeli free kick afterwards.
Leo Snowden and Gatlin O’Donkor both saw shots in the box saved before Peter Kioso fired just wide to see the U’s to victory.
Oxford: Cumming, Spencer (Kioso 73), Long (Helik 77), Brown (Golding 77), Currie (Leigh 77), McDonnell (Bradney 73), Brannagan (Snowden 77), Mills (Elliott-Wheeler 73), Goodrham (Sibley 73), Emakhu (Dembele 66), Harris (O’Donkor 73)
Ipswich: Van Oevelen, Kipre, Burns, Walle Egeli, Johnson, McAteer, Ogbene, Akpom, Compton, Mthunzi, Clarke
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.
Council representatives from Europe and North America are attempting to secure support from at least 19 of the body’s 37 members – the threshold required under Fifa statutes to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM).
If successful, that gathering could evolve into a vote of no confidence in Mr Infantino, whose presidency has been rocked by a collapsed commercial deal and deepening governance rows.
Discontent has been fuelled by his abandoned plan to spin off Fifa’s commercial operations into a $20 billion venture, including selling a 20 per cent stake to private equity firm Thrive Capital.
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The proposal, which critics described as a sell-off of the World Cup, triggered fierce backlash, a threatened boycott by UEFA and accusations that Mr Infantino tried to push the project through unilaterally.
Following the U-turn, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin declared the confederation had “lost confidence” in the Fifa boss, while CONCACAF publicly demanded a full review of Fifa’s governance.
La Liga’s president has also called for Mr Infantino to be removed as Fifa president, increasing the pressure from within European football.
Council members’ anger predates the commercial debacle and was already sharpened by Fifa’s handling of the controversial lifting of Folarin Balogun’s suspension during the World Cup.
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That decision is alleged to have been influenced by political pressure, prompting rebels to demand an independent external review and leading the Norwegian FA to complain to the International Olympic Committee that Fifa breached neutrality rules by bowing to pressure from President Donald Trump.
Fifa insists that due process was followed and that its ethics committee took the decision independently, but it has yet to publish a written report on the case, further inflaming tensions on the council.
For now, Mr Infantino retains key allies in Asia and Africa, and any attempt to oust him would depend on rebels building cross-confederation support ahead of a possible EGM.
But with UEFA and CONCACAF openly challenging his authority, the Fifa president faces an unprecedented battle to keep control of the game’s most powerful office.
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This comes after Oxford United owner Erick Thohir backed FIFA’s World Cup sell-off scheme put forward by Mr Infantino.
Oxford’s owner is also president of the Indonesian Football Association and has spoken to Sky News, vowing to support the FIFA president’s proposals.
Mr Thohir signed a deal with Infantino last year to form a FIFA ‘hub’ in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital.
The U’s owner is seemingly one of very few people in favour of the new plans, along with David Trunda, president of the Czech FA.
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“If FIFA members approve it, it will show there is a demand for this deal to happen,” the Yellows’ owner insisted, speaking to Sky News.
Should the plans be voted through by mid-September, all 211 member associations would receive a $40 million windfall.
The Indonesian FA are members of AFC who have opposed FIFA’s scheme, and Mr Thohir’s country is set to vote in favour.
He continued to Sky News: “Indonesian football has been transformed in the last three years – it has been cleaned up.
“The national team’s ranking has gone from 174 to 118 – to continue this transformation it needs funding.”
Jack Currie and Stan Mills scored the duo of goals to help Aaron Ramsey’s Yellows to the U’s fourth win from four pre-season friendlies.
The victory concludes a successful summer on the pitch amid worrying events off the field with the Yellows currently under a temporary transfer embargo.
Jamie Cumming – 7
The United goalkeeper managed his first clean sheet of pre-season and did so with some decent saves, remaining firm to deny a couple of shots at him and tipping a free kick over the bar.
A relatively comfortable afternoon.
Brodie Spencer (Peter Kioso 73) – 7
Strong in the tackle once again and kicked off the move for the first goal. Expect Spencer will be one of the best right backs in League One this season.
Sam Long (Helik 77) – 6
Did not notice him much, which is a good thing, but helped restrict Chuba Akpom to basically nothing up front.
Ciaron Brown (Golding 77) – 6.5
Popped up slightly more with some defensive contributions and was comfortable playing out from defence with Long.
Jack Currie (Leigh 77) – 8
Was everywhere on the left side.
Combined with Aidomo Emakhu spectacularly all afternoon, overlapping and underlapping frequently to bamboozle the Ipswich wide men.
Popped up in a terrific position to poke home the opener.
Jamie McDonnell (Bradney 73) – 6.5
Felt like he grew into the game and looked confident especially in the second half, pressing with energy and playing nice, simple passes to those further forward.
Cameron Brannagan (Snowden 77) – 8
Led by example and was at the crucial pivot in Ramsey’s ball-playing system.
Had a few efforts blocked as well, but was key in the midfield for United.
Stan Mills (Elliott-Wheeler 73) – 6
Did not have his most joyful afternoon, not quite getting the beating of his man and picking up a booking, but still managed to score with some brilliant pressure.
He will thrive this year.
READ MORE: Aaron Ramsey opens up on Oxford United latest injury struggles
READ MORE: Oxford United beat Premier League foes Ipswich in pre-season finale
Tyler Goodrham (Sibley 73) – 7.5
Brilliant in the pockets, creating and taking chances, and looks a really mature no.10.
Aidomo Emakhu (Dembele 66) – 8
Fashioned many a chance, confidently beating his man on the left, and is even adding some flicks and tricks to his game. Impressed.
Mark Harris (O’Donkor 73) – 6
Was in the game and a couple of efforts which were saved but nothing too troubling.
Substitutes:
Peter Kioso – 6.5
Michal Helik – 6
James Golding – 6
Greg Leigh – 6
Harrison Bradney – 6
Leo Snowden – 6
Aidan Elliott-Wheeler – 6
Louie Sibley – 6
Siriki Dembele – 7
Gatlin O’Donkor – 6.5
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