Oxford united FC
Three things learnt from Aaron Ramsey’s Oxford United
The U’s won in their first pre-season friendly in front of their supporters after going a goal down, Aidomo Emakhu, Gatlin O’Donkor and Jeon Jin-woo scoring the goals to secure victory at the EBB Stadium.
Oxford were hit with a transfer embargo earlier this month with the club committing to keeping the squad together and the new boss ‘excited’ to work with the current group.
During Tuesday’s win, there were some standout aspects that Ramsey had brought to the table.
Press to impress
All three goals against the Shots came from the U’s applying pressure high up the pitch.
For their first, midfielder Jamie McDonnell harassed the hosts’ centre back, putting in a sweet tackle to set Ruben Roosken on his way before his assist for Emakhu.
The second came from O’Donkor positioning himself on the shoulder and pouncing on a goalkeeping error to slide home, before Jin-woo nicked the ball away from a defender at the halfway to bear down on goal and neatly chip the keeper.
Off the ball, Oxford looked energetic and eager to not give time to opposing defenders.
Pivot and play
Under Ramsey, it seems as though United are beginning to get used to owning the ball.
Goalkeeper Jamie Cumming was noticeably on the ball for slightly longer on Tuesday and tried to prioritise a short ball to Cameron Brannagan.
On more than one occasion, the captain, and pivot, would then find one of the full backs in space and the team would then bring the ball forward and attack down the wings.
There were a few early scares with the Shots putting pressure on the keeper, but Oxford quickly grew into this new way of starting from the back.
New season, new positions
We had seen it in one or two brief cameos under Matt Bloomfield, but South Korean forward Jin-woo came on in the no.10 position and offered a new kind of threat.
He offered a threat off the ball and it will be exciting to see the 26-year-old have more of an impact on it – he was unfortunately withdrawn after scoring with just under 20 minutes of play under his belt.
In addition, wing back Ruben Roosken played as a winger.
The Dutchman has played higher up the pitch previously, but he was used as a winger from the start and managed an assist for the first U’s goal.
There is some promise there as a winger from Roosken; his physicality could use some work, but he has shown he can be effective higher up the pitch.
Referee Thomas Parsons dished out two red cards as Oxford drew 1-1 with Mansfield Town on Thursday night.
Parsons handed second yellow cards to Peter Kioso and Gatlin O’Donkor, Mansfield’s equaliser through Michael Smith coming after the former’s dismissal.
The Stags goal and the duo of red cards all came within nine minutes, the U’s holding firm to see out a point with nine men.
It came after United had taken the lead in the first half through a sweet strike from Aston Villa loanee Luka Lynch.
Speaking after the match, U’s head coach Ramsey aired his thoughts: “My immediate feeling is I’m super proud of the players, the way they finished that game.
“We went down to eight men for a minute (after a knock for Brodie Spencer) which seemed forever.
“But for us to dig in and to show that togetherness, staying connected as a team, defending the box, bodies on the line, I couldn’t have asked for any more.
“I was super, super proud of them tonight.”
Kioso’s sending off caused outrage among Oxford affiliates, the referee judging the right back to have dived as he went down under contact in Mansfield’s penalty area.
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Ramsey continued: “I disagree with the decision.
“For me, there’s certainly contact in the area there.
“And, I mean, for the ref then to go ahead and to book him as well, in my opinion, there’s no way PK has dived there.
“So, of course, a big moment in the game where I thought it should have been a penalty.”
For the second red card, O’Donkor received a soft first yellow before making a clumsy challenge to leave the referee with no choice but to show another.
“The first one, I believe it wasn’t a yellow card. And then the second one, it is what it is.”
The hosts’ eventual goal came from a Jamie Cumming mistake, the goalkeeper unable to deal with a cross which was then bundled into the net by Smith.
Despite the error, Ramsey had no ill feelings: “No frustration at all.
“Things happen on the football pitch, but it’s the way that we respond to these things.
“And, like I said, everybody was digging in for each other.
“A couple of players sent off, but I didn’t see that affecting us to accept the defeat, if you like.
“I saw a team that were fighting right until the end to come away with it with something.”
Two league away fixtures in a row have resulted in four points from six, with the U’s now five unbeaten in League One ahead of three consecutive home clashes, starting with Wigan Athletic on Tuesday night.
Aaron Ramsey’s Yellows took the lead in the first half thanks to a peach from Aston Villa loanee Luka Lynch, before a chaotic second half saw Oxford concede an equaliser and reduced to nine men.
Defender Peter Kioso and striker Gatlin O’Donkor both received second yellow cards, meaning United had to weather a late storm to hold onto a point at the One Call Stadium.
Here is how we rated the U’s on Thursday night…
Jamie Cumming – 4.5
Three total saves but a couple of sketchy moments with his feet.
Fumbled the ball for the equaliser, not strong enough coming for the cross.
Disappointing on his return to the team and needs to get some form and rhythm back.
Peter Kioso – 5
Kioso was a bit clumsy in some of his actions, picking up a booking and winning fewer than half of his duels.
Began the second period better, but was dismissed with 15 minutes left after the referee judged him to have dived, receiving a second yellow.
Michal Helik – 6
A couple of slip-ups with his feet but was in the right place to deal with crosses for most of the evening.
11 clearances to his name with backs against the wall late on.
Ciaron Brown – 7
Instinctive to find himself in the right areas at the right times as the Stags got forward.
Immense with 15 total clearances, won all six of his duels and put in a good sliding challenge after a dangerous Mansfield cross.
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Brodie Spencer – 5
Needed help as left one versus one – sometimes versus two – a lot in the first half and dribbled past twice.
Won four of his five tackles.
Cameron Brannagan – 5
A big error almost led to a goal which was out of character but passing was decent overall with one key pass to his name.
Kai Andrews – 5.5
Got forward a bit more in the second half before having to defend again after the red cards.
Louie Sibley (O’Donkor 59′) – 5
Taken off at the hour mark after a tough outing against a persistent Mansfield.
Luka Lynch (Missanga 59′) – 7.5
A beauty of a strike for his first professional goal and was easily United’s biggest threat.
Was dangerous both cutting inside and getting to the by-line, beating his man and winning three fouls.
That is three assists and one goal in his first five Yellows appearances. Not bad.
Mark Harris (Currie 77′)- 5
Isolated up top.
He is not a hold-up striker so struggled to get involved, with the midfield not there to help him out on many occasions.
His only effort all game was an early glancing header wide.
Siriki Dembele (Long 80′) – 6
A quiet one for his standards this season but grabbed an assist, performed some important carries and won three fouls.
Substitutes:
Mo Missanga (59′) – 6
Gatlin O’Donkor (59′) – 4
Unlucky with the first booking but a silly challenge for his second whilst already on a yellow.
Jack Currie (77′) – N/A
Sam Long (80′) – N/A
Oxford United travel to face Mansfield Town in League One as they look to extend their unbeaten streak to five games.
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