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Match report |
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Oxford United V Swansea City | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Oxford United 1 Swansea City 0Peter and Bethan Charles Take what you want from this one. On the one hand we looked far more disciplined and organised, we defended well, and we had some real pattern to our play. On the other, this is just about as well as we can play at the moment, but we still lost - and in the second half we did not muster a single shot on target. Spin it whichever way you want - it will probably depend on how much you have had to drink! To be fair, Flynn is still shuffling the pack. Today's formation was an atacking looking 4 -4-2. The back four was made up of O'Leary, Smith, Evans and Howard (though Evans was quickly replaced by DeVulgt due to a knock picked up early on). The midfield 4 saw Reid wide left, Mumford and Lacey in the middle, and Keaveney wide right. Watkin and Thomas were the front two, with a rejuvenated Roger between the sticks. And the first half was indeed promising. We played the better football, looked the more composed and definitely won the half on points. Certainly, there was plenty of fight in the team - Mumford and Reid, in particular, led the midfield battle, and the back four backed them up with some aggressive defending. Even more encouraging, we defended with some real tenacity, looking well organised througout, with Smith particularly impressieve, and Keaveney and Reid workign hard to drop back to support the full backs. And even more encouraging, we sought to play a patient passing game, working the ball into intelligent positions, and seeking to play threaded balls into our front two at every opportunity. Keaveney looked threatening at times, using his pace to burst forward on the right, and it was just such a burst that saw our first and best opening on 7 minutes. Keveney's accurate right foot drive was tipped onto the post by the Oxford keeper, only for the rebound to fall to the unmarked Watkin in front of a gaping goal. Unfortunately, Watto's connection with the ball was poor, and this allowed the keeper to gratefully smother the ball on the line, with the 500 or so Jacks already shouting goal. Sadly, we never quite lived up to these heights again in the entire match, even though we continued to probe intelligently for the rest of the half. A shot over the bar from Mumford and a header over from Smith were in fact our best efforts. The home side, though, were particularly poor, made so mainly by our midfield tenacity and well organised defending. In fact, they did not muster a single chance until the last minute of the first half, when a well timed run from the lively Omiymini saw him burst past O'Leary, and strike a goal-bound shot which Roger did well to save. Inevitably, the second half saw an improvement from the hapless home team, who began to attack with more vigour. Initially, we remained well organised, and restricted them to only a few half chances. But we failed to raise our own in game in resposne to theirs, and we refused to commit any more players into attack. As the half wore on, it became increasingly inevitable that we would pay for this lack of ambition, and so it proved. The warning signs had come on the hour mark, when first Keaveney and then Smith made timely challenges in the box to deny the home side. On 71 minutes a neat Oxford break almost saw David Oldfield score from a close range heading opportunity, which he contrived to miss completely (Posh reject!). Then on 74 minutes a great break down our left side from an Oxford player, bissecting Howard and O'Leary, led to an easy chance for Jefferson Louis, who struck home well from close range. By this stage, Oxford probably deserved it, as they had taken a far more attacking approach to the half. Our only response had been a couple of wayeward strikes from Keaveney and Thomas, and our only effort after that was a free-kick hit over the bar by Mumford. In truth, once behind we were never going to recover. The excellent Jack crowd gave the team a mixed reception at the end of the game, illustrating the ambivalence of this performance - much improved at the back, but no real punch up front. Still, at least the performance warrants some player ratings:
Oxford United 1 Swansea City 0The Famous Five
The sun was up, the sky was blue, and the trip to the Kassam Stadium, in thankfully warmer conditions than last season, brought with it an air of optimism as regards the result, helped no doubt by the weather conditions, and last week's first half performance. There was another strong following for the Swans (around 500 towards the crowd of 5440) as fans converged on Oxford from many points of the compass, all hoping for the continued improvement, and maybe a three point reward at the end of it, to force through Flynn's plan of lose a few, draw a few, win a lot, apace. FreestoneEvans – O'Leary – J Smith – HowardLacey – Mumford – ReidThomas – Watkin – KeavenySubs: Moss – De Vulgt – Murphy – Theobald – JacksonNo substitute keeper today due to injury, and the extent of the injuries and suspensions situation was highlighted by Jackson's appearance on the bench. Now to the reality check. Earlier in the week, we wondered whether we could write the match report for this game, before we travelled up to Oxford, so that we could get it up on the site in record time. Well, after 90 minutes, we reckoned that we could well have, as, without wanting to sound repetitive, this was again a game of contrasting halves, very much mirroring the game against Rochdale. The way we played in the first forty five minutes this week, probably exceeded our effort last Saturday, and were it not for Steve 'I'm not really a striker so don't expect me to score' Watkin, we would have taken the interval break with at least a one goal advantage. Without wanting to sound too critical, please tell us that Brian Flynn can see everything on the field that the fans see, and that he appreciates the lack of aggression, fight and effort that Watkin puts into his role as a front runner. Shortly after missing an open goal on 7 minutes, when a fine 25 yard shot from a much improved Keaveny hit the inside of the post, rebounded to an unmarked Watkin, who managed to tap it at the keeper who had to scramble from one side of the goal to the other (you had to be there to believe it – it was not down to a magnificent save I'm afraid), the ever alert striker then decided to avoid a 50/50 challenge for a free ball with the Oxford keeper, and calmly let him gather the ball without so much as an outstretched foot to simulate effort. No matter at what level of football you are playing the game, any manager would expect more, and surely the time has come to draw a line here. In between these incidents, De Vulgt had replaced Evans as a result of an injury. Throughout the first half, we dominated proceedings, and it was not until the 46th minute that Roger Freestone had to make his first save, from a shot by a player sounding something like In My Main Moony. The defence had played very well, with plenty of good covering, organisation, and calm. This is one area that has certainly benefited both from the return of Jason Smith, and the new coaching. We are looking solid at the back, and it is just a pity that this has not coincided with a continuance of the 2 goals per game strike rate that we established early on in the season. Had we been able to sustain both elements of our game, we would be more comfortably placed than we now find ourselves at this stage after 13 games. Certain players do seem to be settling into their game a lot better with Michael Howard and Kris O'Leary being two good examples at the moment. Howard in fact is playing some of his best football for a long time. He is alert, and keen to get involved in any aspect of the game. In midfield, Mumford looked at his hungriest, chasing everything, and even though his skill levels haven't yet returned in full, he is providing some quality in the middle of the field, where we have been desperately lacking all season. There was little to criticise at half time save for one individual and the lack of a goal or two, and with the ball again being played largely on the ground, the optimism held reasonably well for the second half. It was as if the teams had exchanged shirts during the interval, as there was total role reversal. They introduced some pace to the side, and we sat back, played it long, passed badly, lost the ball and generally lost control of the game. The Oxford goal on 73 minutes came from a blistering break down the Oxford right, with the attacker splitting the defence, and an across goal ball being easily tapped in with Roger having no chance of stopping it. We had no creativity in the second half, and the way we lose our way in these games is becoming increasingly frustrating. We can only hope that the long promised loan signings materialise soon, and introduce the type of players we need to enable us to play for 90 minutes in the way that Brian Flynn wants us to. Thomas has faded badly from his early season form, and Moss, when used, struggles on occasions, but we can't help feeling that they are not being played to their strengths (out of necessity we have no doubt), and that the arrival of key position players will free them up to play their true games. The season ticks away, and each game is now critical. We need a sustained run of success, but have yet to get started. The performance today did not warrant the booing at the end, but the players and management must surely understand the feelings of the fans that travel to watch these games. This club has a great away following, especially given its 91st (now 92nd) league position, but patience is not endless. Freestone - 6 - No chance with goal. Did OK otherwise. De-Vulgt - 6 - On for 85 mins and had some nice touches. Howard - 7 - Another good performance. Probably the most consistent performer on games we've seen this year. Smith - 8 - Great performance. Won just about every header he challenged for. O'Leary - 7 - Continued with improvement seen of late. Lacey - 5 - Good first half, exposed by Oxford's increased workrate in second half. Mumford - 6 - As above, good first half, chasing Oxford shadows all second half. Reid - 6 - Looked at home first half again, poor second half. Keaveny – 7 - Ran his socks off. Desperately unlucky not to score. Watkin - 4 -Desperate that he didn't score! Will go down as the miss of this season or just about any season. Thomas - 5 - We wish Watkin's chance had fallen to him. Not really involved, touch let him down too often. Sub - Moss - 5 - On for 10 minutes or so and must have given away at least 5 free kicks. Other than that not much influence.
Oxford United 1 Swansea City 0Clive Hughes On a day that had started out cold and overcast turned out to be another hot sunny day for our second visit to the Kassam Stadium. A crowd of 5440 was boosted by a near 500 visiting fans as we looked for our first win under Brian Flynn. With injuries and suspensions the team had a slightly strange look to it as we lined up with a 4-4-2 formation with Rog, Evans O'Leary,Jason Smith,Howard, Reid, Mumford, Lacey & Keaveney, and Thomas & Watkin up front. We started brightly with the team looking fully committed against an Oxford team that were struggling at home but gaining much better results on their travels. Within the first 5mins we should have been a goal ahead as Keaveney worked a good position and from the edge of the area shot across the Oxford keeper Woodman, only too see his shot rebound off the post. The chance was not lost as it fell to the unmarked Watkin who with the whole goal to aim at from the six-yard line only managed a weak volley into the centre of goal allowing Woodman to save. The team were not downhearted as they raised the pressure for yet another through ball for Watkin to chase. Now most players we had minutes earlier failed with a golden opportunity would have given everything to make amends, but no he backed out allowing Woodman to gather. With a more committed effort we may have got a penalty or at least the ball could have spooned clear to an advancing player. During this time we lost Evans with what looked like a pulled muscle De Vulgt replacing him at right back. For the majority of the first half we looked totally in control without creating any more chances with the defence looking very strong with Smith commanding and also O'Leary giving an improved performance maybe due to the fact of not having to be the key man in defence. They were ably supported by De Vulgt and Howard as Oxford did not trouble Roger. With half time nearly on us we had a massive scare when Omoyimni outpaced the defence and when one on one with Rog seemed certain to score. Rog stood tall and saved by trapping the ball under his body to the relief of all Swans fans. The second half saw us start off very sluggishly maybe thinking the hard work was already done. It was not as simple as that as Oxford stepped up a gear and put us under early pressure without again troubling Roger. We didn't react and started to defend deeper and deeper giving Oxford the run of midfield. There seemed no sense of urgency as we continued to give the ball away from clearances only to allow Oxford to create another attack. The defence were still playing well as a unit, but the warning signs were there for all to see. Oxford made 2 substitutions in quick succession. By the reaction of the Oxford fans both players seemed to be firm favourites. In fact these two combined to score the only goal 15mins from the end. Hackett attacked down the Oxford right at pace and cut into the box passing to the six-yard box for Louis to hit firmly into the net. Roger showed his disgust by shouting at anyone within range. The move had in fact started by no one closing down their defenders allowing them to pick their options. Oxford bossed the rest of the game with the team formation looking very ragged. Keaveny went down with what appeared to be cramp, and as the game continued was treated by Woodman who received a handshake from Keaveny and warm applause from the Swans fans. It was not long before he left the field to be replaced by Moss. We now changed to 4-3-3 but still didn't threaten the Oxford goal, giving the ball away cheaply in midfield and most attacks being the aimless hopefull long ball forward to forwards who had no chance of winning anything in the air. We were given one final chance when we were awarded a foul outside the area close to centre of the goal. With the option of a low hard hit shot or passing to the side of the wall Mumford decided to go for the more difficult one of trying for the top corner only to see the chance go way over the bar. With two minutes of added time the game petered out to the inevitable 1-0 result. Player Comments Freestone back to his commanding best, not at fault for the goal, and held everything that came his way although not tested did make that excellent save at the end of the first half. Evans only played the first 5 minutes Smith. Good to see him back to his near best, the defence looking much more solid on his return O'Leary, a good game benefiting from his partnership with Smith. Howard, again another good performance. Reid never really got into the game. Did get booked for a silly challenge and was spoken to by the referee on 3 other occasions. Must learn to show more self-control. Lacey, although a slightly better performance of late, is still the weak link in midfield but did throw himself into a blocking tackle early in the second half to prevent a dangerous shot on goal. Mumford. Very impressive in the first half, but tired dramatically in the second and must lose weight to regain fitness. Keaveny. Worked tirelessly, in fact ran himself into the ground. Showed neat skills. Lets hope he continues to develop. Thomas. Not one of his best displays but was battling as the lone front man (see below) Watkin. Always on the back foot. A seasoned professional should never have missed the chance he had in the first half. Spent most of the game pushing into defenders backs hoping for obstruction. Has he thought of trying to get to the ball first? De Vulgt. A good game but did tire towards the end. Moss only on for about 10 mins, but did not offer much. This game was the proverbial ' game of two halves'. A very good showing in the first half was matched by a poor one in the second. Our lack of pace was very evident as we never troubled their defence and at times were outpaced in midfield. The return of Wood from suspension must have him partner Thomas upfront at the expense of Watkin. Apart from the poor showing in the second half, more worrying is that with all the possession we had in the first we hardly created any telling attacks on goal. The time is now to bring in the 2 loan faces we have been promised. We must have an outlet to give our defence some respite. With the defence now looking stronger we must build on the platform and start to worry teams. Our attacks are too pedestrian we must have extra pace in the team. Let's hope for that illusive first win under Flynn againt Southend, as the teams above us are starting to pull away. One last thought. Bound did get stick, but even more was given to Ex Cardiff player Gordon in the short time he was on the pitch.
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