Theres no place like Kassam!

There is something special about a visit to the Kassam Stadium and the only disappointing aspect of it is that the away allowance is so restricted when the ground could easily take twice as many of us. Obviously we can't complain when we can't give them more tickets at the Memorial Ground. On the back of the home defeat last week I have to admit that despite it being a happy hunting ground you always feel that like any record it has to end and after their excellent win at Charlton last week it was obviously not going to be a forgone conclusion and with a goal to the homeside inside the first two minutes it was hard to envisage what was ahead of us for the rest of the game as we became the superior force in the first half and then totally dominated the second with as convincing performance as you could get.

Smith 6  Dreadful kick which set up Oxfords goal and one of their few meaningful attacks but overall was composed. The strange thing about the miskick was that it should come on a football pitch that was worthy of playing League 1 football!


Leadbitter NOLE  Looked slow and lethargic for the short time he was on the pitch and his injury record is now looking a bit worrying. Certainly he looked far from fit and must have known very quickly that things weren't right and probably faces another 4-6 game absence.
Craig 8.5  There are supporters who are quick to look for scapegoats and we had one in front of us who seemed to be seeking out Craig for criticism when in fact it was easy to see in this performance what he has brought us. He always looked calm in possession , showed good positional sense and a power in the air that gave nothing away but even more the Leadership of players that only a player of his experience can bring. For me he should be immediately installed as Captain and that is no disrespect to Tom Lockyer but he is just a natural leader of men.
Broadbent 9 MOM  Another colossal performance that belied his Football league experience. The Oxford players looked scared stiff of him every time he brought the ball out and that was a lot yesterday. he was marking a very experienced striker in Wes Thomas but I can only recall one moment when he got the wrong side of him and even then he recovered to win the ball. DC has some tough decisions to make when Tom Lockyer is fit again because I can see no way that Craig will be left out.
Brown 8  Accomplished performance that we had come to expect. Kept a tight reign on what could be a dangerous winger and was back to his best when going forward. It was clear to see that the Oxford winger just doesn't fancy defending and Brown gave him a torrid time especially in the first half. Not clear if Bola was injured because he wasn't in the squad but with Partington and Sweeney also on the bench with Craig capable of covering all the positions I feel it is moving back to a DC who wants to play attacking football and Brown at his best is a better attacking option.


Lines 8.5  Just seemed to be always on the ball and when he had it no one was capable of taking it off him. His attitude towards a game that defensively is not natural to him is first class and yesterday he was the best midfielder on show and in my eyes a worthy contender for Man of the Match. It was a shame that after his best run in the second half it was Sinclair who he tried to set up but overhit the pass. It was not Sincs fault but had it been Harrison with that extra bit of pace it would probably have been the perfect ball.
O. Clarke 7.5  Yesterday it seemed that him and Lines swopped roles throughout the match and this was Ollie Clarke at somewhere near his best. Tigerish in the tackle and showing a bit of confidence on the ball that he seemed to be lacking since his injury. Who can forget his battling to hold on to the ball with some close control and then an exquisite chipped path that the stretching Ellis brilliantly guided into the Oxford net. Lets hope this is the start of a return to form.
Sinclair 6.5  Not as effective as previous games but still worthy of a p-lace in the team because his running provides the vital link for Harrison to forge a loan striker role and whilst he didn't see a huge amount of the ball in the first half his constant involvement meant that Oxford defenders who looked less than able never had a moments piece. Sinclair does have a superb engine and even when not at his best his effort and commitment for the cause cannot be questioned.


Bennett 7  Another who the chap in front of us and others around us too  seemed to be looking to criticise and, for a player who was starting his first game and who was obviously trying hard to impress it really makes you wonder just what their schedule is. He very much looks the tricky winger we have been looking for and one with a vision for a pass. had a couple of opportunities in the first half that went astray but built up a good partnership with lee Brown and after his goal was unlucky not to score with a run inside and a deft shot that the keeper just reached and put past the post. He also provided a lovely pass to Ollie Clarke in a tight situation which set up the winning goal. May I remind the "supporters"  who were crying out for Gaffney to replace him that Rome was not built in a day and we are Gasheads and EVERY player deserves at least a ten game run to be judged and certainly a lot longer than a debut starting appearance. he certainly looks capable of being a very dangerous player in my mind.
Harrison 8.5  Didn't feel he had such a good game as recently but it was good to see him playing a more all round attacking role. He could have had two goals from headers, the one in the second half he probably should have scored from an excellent Partington cross but the way he leapt and stretched to send a volley inside the post was absolutely superb and suitable to win any game.
Sercombe 6.5  The wide role just isn't really for him and he struggled to get in the game for long periods against his former employers and he seemed to be itching to get in a more forward role however I can fully understand why Sinclair is in that role. Yes Sercombe would give us more strikes at goals but would not have the work rate to do the uninspiring part of the role. He still contributed to the overall total second half domination of the midfield where a  three or four goal win would have been deserved.


Subs:
Partington 8  An excellent all round performance from an intelligent footballer who whilst not having the speed of Leadbitter does have a better percentage of accurate crosses by quite a distance. 
Moore NOLE Must say that I would like to see him given another final chance as he does have something to offer that we haven't seen yet.
Gaffney NOLE

Crowd 10  A sell out away crowd who always enjoy a visit to the Kassam Stadium and totally out sing the home support and with a five match run of wins it must be our most favourite destination! The fact that it is so hard to get out of the ground all adds up to the atmosphere and singing which went on for a good fifteen minutes after the final whistle.
Ref 6  Reasonable performance from Gavin Ward who was let down by his linesman on several occasions and even more by the nonsense rules for injuries.
Oxford 5 Have to say that although we have won on the last 5 games this was the most one sided game of those five and without doubt the weakest Oxford side over that period. That said yesterdays game came on the back of a fine 3-2 win at Charlton last week so they can't be that bad and perhaps it is more down to the way we play and early on they did look like if they were allowed they were capable of slick passing in the final third.

DC Got everything right and I must say I am glad he didn't get that Manager of the Month for January because we all know what that generally does to the next match! He now has a squad of players that I feel are better than last season and has many more difficult selections to make between now and the end of the season. That starts on Tuesday and as always we will be waiting with bated breath for the team sheet to discover if we will go more attacking against the lowly Rochdale team but a game against Keith Hills team is never easy but bring it on. UTG