Oxford United ‘earned right to play’ in first Aaron Ramsey win

It definitely wasn’t always pretty – for large periods of the game on Saturday, it was rather ugly – but it was a first win of the season for Oxford United and a first competitive victory in management for Aaron Ramsey.

As expected, Stevenage – a side that only lost twice at home last season and finished the campaign in sixth – set up for a battle.

Despite flashes of threat, particularly in the first half, it was clear a large part of their gameplan was to disrupt the control and rhythm Oxford wanted to create.

United needed to adapt.

Ramsey and most of the players have spoken since his arrival about the shift towards a more possession-heavy approach. It sounds great, but as we saw on Saturday, the style needs and does have flexibility.

Although the first half was bitty, frustrating and at times a challenging watch, Oxford matched Stevenage for fight, aggression in duels and intensity out of possession.

Oxford United midfielder Louie Sibley (Image: Oxford United)

I’m sure, by Ramsey’s own admission, he would have hoped for slightly more threat when Oxford did reclaim possession in the opening 45 minutes, but that was for later.

Oxford earned the right to play.

Once they knew they could match the opposition physically and the game began to open up, we saw the style Ramsey wants to implement develop in front of our very eyes.

In the early exchanges, Oxford struggled to progress the ball into wide areas and allow the likes of Siriki Dembele and Aidomo Emakhu to pose a threat in the final third.

Jack Currie carries the ball for Oxford United (Image: Oxford United)

In the second half, though, Oxford’s second goal was a perfect example of an important difference.

Emakhu received the ball in an advanced area before threading a defence-splitting pass into Gatlin O’Donkor who was brought down by the goalkeeper.

That opportunity simply wouldn’t have existed in the first half – and perhaps not in the second either had Oxford failed to counteract Boro’s gameplan and gone a goal behind.

And a word on O’Donkor.

In some ways, I’ve felt sorry for him; it seems that whenever Oxford are thrown into a crisis, the youngster is called upon.

But I loved the fact that, despite our issues, he is being given the opportunity to show his development after some promising loan spells and is now making an impact at the club he joined at such a young age.

Gatlin O’Donkor puts Oxford ahead against Stevenage (Image: Oxford United)

His ability to use his frame to hold up the ball was on full display. His power to drive at defenders was a threat, as was his speed and intelligence to time his run, reach the pass and draw a foul from the goalkeeper.

And, of course, there was the brilliant headed finish too.

This Oxford United under Ramsey is certainly not the finished article.

But as hard-fought away performances go, I think we can all agree there was a lot to like.