Oxford United draw with Cambridge United ‘feels like defeat’

Brannagan captained the team as Oxford were held by Cambridge in their final League One fixture before the international break.

The U’s went ahead after 15 minutes thanks to Siriki Dembele scoring his second goal of the campaign.

Ben Knight levelled things for the visitors in the second half meaning it was a point apiece at the Kassam Stadium, where United remain unbeaten this season.

With the U’s amassing the bulk of possession and creating two big chances, as did Cambridge, the Yellows’ skipper disclosed the team’s frustration at not seeing out the win.

“We mentioned it in there; we can be frustrated [and] wound up,” the 30-year-old revealed.

Cameron Brannagan says Oxford United’s draw with Cambridge ‘feels like defeat’ (Image: Darrell Fisher)

“They came with a gameplan to try and nullify us and we got in front.

“Maybe we needed that second goal, but it’s not a defeat.

“It feels like a defeat in a weird way and we were just talking about that in [the dressing room].

“But I think that just shows how far we’ve come as a group.

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“Everyone gives it their all every single day in training and works hard.

“Maybe if we nick another in the first half it could have been a completely different game.

“We can be very frustrated, but we didn’t lose.

“You look at the start of the season and how we’ve started, it’s a good start.

“We can take positives and look forward now to the break and after the break and working towards hopefully getting three points in the next game.

The U’s have lost only once in the league this season and remain unbeaten at home heading into the break.

Oxford lie sixth in the table and four points off top despite a turbulent summer which saw a change of manager and the club being hit with a temporary transfer embargo.

Aaron Ramsey on the touchline for Oxford United (Image: Darrell Fisher)

New head coach Ramsey and his staff, Chris Gunter and Tom Hutton, have made a clear difference in the way the team plays, with results also beginning to come in the Welsh boss’ first permanent managerial role.

“The gaffer, Hutts, Gunts, have been a breath of fresh air coming in,” Brannagan continued.

“They’ve been fantastic. They play a certain way which is very enjoyable and we want to get better at that every single day.

“We do that on the training field, and you can kind of see it coming out in games now.

“It’s obviously early in the season so we’ll only get better at what we’re doing so long may it continue. It’s been great.

“Obviously, a surprise with what happened at the start of the season but that’s life and football and we crack on.”