Oxford united FC
Oxford United player ratings in poor display against Huddersfield
Bojan Radulovic’s opening goal and Joe Taylor’s brace secured victory for the Terriers against Aaron Ramsey’s Yellows.
Gatlin O’Donkor had equalised for his second goal in as many games but it was a first league defeat for Ramsey’s side.
Here is how we rated the U’s in a disappointing performance…
Simon Eastwood – 7
Forced into a big early stop and kept the U’s in it in the first half with four saves.
Conceded three but did not do too much wrong himself.
Brodie Spencer – 5
Struggled against Joe Taylor on his return to his former club and did not provide anything going forward.
Sam Long – 5
A brief early scare and not a big presence at crosses, but put in some good challenges in the box.
Caught out for the goals too easily.
Ciaron Brown – 5
Survived a reckless tackle on Bojan Radulovic and not as switched on at the back positionally at times.
Jack Currie – 5
Picked up a booking and struggled to link enough with Siriki Dembele.
Jamie McDonnell – 5.5
Some good challenges in there but did not offer anything on the ball.
Cameron Brannagan – 4.5
Wayward passing at times – a theme across the whole team – and a bit too hit-and-hope.
Not his usual self and had a particularly dodgy header backwards luckily result in the Terriers firing wide.
Mo Missanga – 6.5
Tried to be positive with a couple of impressive runs forward, creating a good chance for Dembele in the second half.
Tyler Goodrham – 5
Not too involved in the first half.
Some nice ideas with his passing and an early shot blocked but not enough moments on the ball and not enough endeavour to influence things.
Siriki Dembele – 6
A couple of good take-ons and brought down in the box with nothing given.
Mark Harris – 5
Not involved in the game enough. Had one shot saved but struggled to make an impact.
Substitutes:
Gatlin O’Donkor – 7
Another game, another goal.
The young striker in the right place again and battled well.
Kai Andrews – 6
Felt a little more calm on the ball than McDonnell but not enough time and a tricky game state to show what he is really about.
Leo Snowden – 6.5
Got in some good areas and provided an assist.
Peter Kioso – 6
United conceded the two winners shortly after he was introduced – not his fault – but came on in a position where Spencer had struggled.
Harris has scored four goals in the U’s first eight games with Aaron Ramsey’s team sitting eighth in the division.
The Wales international’s last goal came in Oxford’s 2-1 win at Notts County nine days ago, opening the scoring after a mistake from the goal keeper.
Having started all of the Yellows’ league matches so far this season, Harris is firmly Ramsey’s first-choice striker despite the impressive form of young centre forward Gatlin O’Donkor who has three goal from eight substitute appearances.
After two years in the Championship with United, the 27-year-old has opened up on his targets for the season ahead of the welcoming of Wigan Athletic on Tuesday night.
When asked what his goal target was this campaign, Harris replied: “To beat the promotion season.
“Four [goals] in eight [games]; not bad.
“One every other game, I would take. I should get my target by that.”
When Oxford won promotion to the Championship in 2023/24, the former Cardiff City and Wrexham man bagged 15 goals in the league – 19 in all competitions – which he is trying to beat this year.
The goals became harder to obtain during the two second-tier seasons, with the Swansea-born man scoring nine over the couple of campaigns.
When asked if League One lacked the same intensity as England’s second tier, Harris replied: “If less, only slightly, I would say.
“Different games bring different needs, let’s say, it’s still an intense league. You’ve got to fight for every ball, you’ve got to win every ball.
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“It’s no walk in the park compared to the Championship, put it that way.”
Under his former Wales teammate Ramsey, Harris is enjoying his football and role as centre forward.
“Since he’s come in, it’s not just the defenders and the midfielders that defend, it’s every single one of us,” the striker continued.
“We lose the ball, we react and we get it back. If we don’t get it back, we all get back in.
“Even me, if I’m the highest person on the pitch, I’ve got to get back behind the ball. That’s what I try to do.
“But yeah, our main principles, however you want to put it, is if we lose that ball, we get it back. And if not, we’re all getting into shape, compact. Hard to break down.
“[Ramsey] doesn’t want to just be a nice team that can just pass because you need the defensive side and you need the reactions and your compactness.
“You need it all together to be a good side and he’s brought that in. Everyone’s bought into it.
“Everyone loves playing the way we’re playing at the minute. It’s been great so far.”
The U’s have been handed a home draw with the Boro in their first FA Cup fixture of the season.
Oxford have not played in this round of the competition since 2023 when they were last in League One.
Aaron Ramsey’s side have faced Stevenage once already this season, winning 2-1 at the Broadhall Way in their second game of the league season.
The Yellows lie eighth in the table at the time of the draw and are set to face Wigan Athletic on Tuesday night at the Kassam Stadium.
Alex Revell’s Stevenage sit 12th in the table after a middling start to the season.
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Last season, Oxford reached the fourth round of the historic cup competition, beating MK Dons away on penalties when entering in the third round before losing 1-0 to Premier League side Sunderland at home in the fifth round.
The match will be Ramsey’s first in the competition as manager after winning the tournament three FA Cup titles with Arsenal as a player.
Oxford’s best run in the competition came in the 1963/64 season when they reached the quarter-finals, becoming the first ever Fourth Division club to do so.
Meanwhile, Oxford City are set to face former Premier League and FA Cup champions Leicester City at the MGroup Stadium.
Oxford United supporters travelling to the stadium for the match against Wigan Athletic on Tuesday, October 20, are being told to allow extra time for their journeys due to ongoing works.
There are no changes to the usual travel arrangements, and no road closures are in place.
However, diversions will remain in place after the match on the roundabouts at Grenoble Road to help manage traffic flow.
Roadworks and temporary traffic lights on Watlington Road at the roundabout with Grenoble Road are causing significant delays.
Fans are encouraged to avoid the area if possible and allow extra time for their journey.
Away supporters are also advised to consider alternative routes to the stadium.
The club said: “Please plan your journey in advance and allow extra time when travelling to and from the stadium.”
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