The third away match in a row for me, since I avoided the JPT fiasco. The other two had been a mixed bag - playing well at Southend but losing, playing badly at Sheffield and losing. To be honest the Sheffield trip had been a bit of a waste of time and money as far as the performance on the field was concerned with only the constant support of the large travelling support giving me something to smile about.
Before setting off, I knew that both Duberry and Potter would still be on the injured list and that Davis was recovered. Of course Robbie Hall is now back, so that was a definite plus.
Having given various rail companies more of my hard-earned than I felt comfortable with recently, I decided to drive. Down the M1, round the M25 (anti-clockwise this time - they say a change is as good as a rest!), down the M23 to Crawley and parked up in good time.
Crawley are doing well this season, with significant backing from somewhere or other, and have assembled a decent team. Results have generally gone their way and they are up at the business end of the table. A funny old club really. They have a couple of odious idiots as manager and assistant, and the whole atmosphere is resolutely non-league. But the Crawley supporters are a nice, friendly bunch and I have nothing against the club as a whole. It was good to see the Oxford and Crawley fans drinking together before the match. Doubtless we'd be taunting each other during the match, then drinking together again afterwards. As it should be really.
Anyway into the stadium (easy to find due to the giant red and white football on the nearby roundabout), this time with a ticket! Some previous trips to Crawley have been marked by 'pay-at-the-turnstiles' and suspiciously low 'official' away crowd numbers shenanigans. But now you buy a numbered ticket from a booth before going in. Much better.
The Broadfield Stadium (which ought to be named the Broadmoor Stadium if you look at the antics of Evans and his sidekick, Paul Raynor)is fairly basic. We were behind one goal in a roofed terrace. Fairly shallow front to back. To our left, there is an open unroofed terrace down one side, with netting above it probably to stop the ball going into people's gardens. Perhaps the locals got tired of Steve Evans knocking on the door asking for his ball back! The most vocal of the home support are behind the opposite goal in another smallish roofed stand (renamed the Bruce Winfield Stand this very day - applause from all, including the over 1000 yellows supporters). The main stand takes up the final side. It's neat, small and in need of substantial development if Crawley are to go much further. There was a crowd of only just over 4,000 and it looked fairly full. 'Where were you when you were shit?' we asked the Crawley supporters. 'In Sainsburys with the wife doing the shopping' they didn't answer. Which is a shame, because it would have been quite funny. There were certainly more of them than at any time I'd seen them.
In contrast to Southend and Sheffield, where the PA was inaudible, the Crawley sound system had been taken over by some bloke who had obviously spent too much time in his youth standing next to the speaker stacks at heavy metal gigs. To counteract the deafness and TinTin-itis (yes, I know) he turned it up to eleven. If was far too loud and completely killed any building atmosphere. They then played some horrible hackneyed Queen nonsense (not the National Anthem) as the teams ran out.
Ah, the teams. Right. First of all, we were wearing the blue and white second strip for some reason. Crawley (apparently the original 'Red Devils') were all in red, so why we weren't in Yellow and Blue I can't guess. And who was wearing this kit?
Clarke, Batt, Whing, Worley, Wright, Davis, Leven, McLaren, Philliskirk, Constable, Hall (R).
So that's 5-2-3, or 3-4-3, or 3-4-2-1? Or something. It was narrow, either at the back or in midfield. Why not 4-3-3 like we are used to? Heslop added into the middle, Whing or Wright taken out of defence. Oh well, something like it worked well at Southend (apart from in the striking department). Maybe it would be OK. It wasn't.
We started off with Clarkey in front of us. It was fairly obvious from the first moments that Crawley were much more up for the match than our lot. They looked more organised, sharper on and off the ball, more willing to put in a challenge. It took them all of three minutes to open their account. A shot was blocked by Wright, fell to a red-shirted attacker who put the ball past the floundering Clarke. Why (with three centre halves) there was nobody marking the Crawley player is only something that CW and his team can answer. A terrible start. Again.
The referee. Let's get this over with. I'm not sure what to say about him. One-eyed? A complete homer? I'm sure that blogs come under the laws of libel, so I'd better not say what I really think. Suffice to say, if he could give Crawley a free kick, he did. If he should have given us a free kick, he didn't. Offences that were to all intents and purposes the same (high feet for example) merited a talking to, a free kick and probably a booking if done by an Oxford player, but nothing if done by Crawley. At one point later in the match Whing saw a ball out for a goal kick. After the ball had gone out, he was tackled from behind and trodden on. He was then given a yellow card for getting riled about it. Shit ref. Worst this season by a mile, and we've had some stinkers. I won't go on about him much more, it makes me angry just thinking about him. Just take it as read that he didn't improve as the game went on. Actually as we are having a pop at the officials, let's have a go at the blonde female lineswoman who ran the line to our left.
I'm not sexist, and welcome women into football. Players, supporters, officials. It's all good. Except when its not. This woman was incompetent. She got decisions wrong that were about two feet away from her, made no decision at all numerous times. Poor.
Meanwhile back at the game. As at Sheffield, the early goal failed to spark us into life. Crawley hit the bar with Clarke beaten and then put another nail in the coffin on about a quarter of an hour. A(nother) free kick, swung over to the back post, markers doing god knows what, a suspicion of climbing, but a free header, past Clarke and two nil. Feeble defending. The idiot Crawley players then decided to try and incite some crowd trouble by celebrating in front of and gesticulating at the Oxford fans. This resulted in the plod filming the crowd and completely ignoring what had started it i.e. the Crawley players. Just looking for an excuse. Of course our friend the ref went and had a word with the Crawley players , telling them not to do it again. Didn't he? No, he didn't. Apparently that's OK then is it?
It had been a frantic opening period, with Crawley the better team by a mile. Every ball put into our box was leading to utter panic. The ball was being hit with pace, attackers running on to it. They were faster to the ball, quicker on the ball, more mobile off the ball. They were playing to a system and doing it well. It wasn't particularly pretty - balls down the channels, or hoofed through the middle - but it was effective. We were doing nothing. For a 'passing team' we had made precious few passes. Crawley were just closing the players down too quickly. So we went to plan B. Which was balls down the channels and hoofed through the middle. But we didn't do it anywhere near as well as Crawley.
Philliskirk went off and was replaced with the misfiring Smalley. A couple of minutes later (on the half hour mark) and it looked as if Constable might have thrown us a lifeline. He chased down a ball that he had no right to get to, the keeper and defender saw him coming and made a pig's ear of what should have been an easy clearance, Beano nicked the ball and walked it into the net. Back in it, somehow. Surely, surely, we could now settle down. Smalley had a chance but put it wide. If there was a turning point (although I'm not convinced we would have come out with anything anyway) that was it. He should have got it on target, it missed by a yard or two. It wasn't a simple chance, but the type the strikers should make a better fist of than that, really.
After that short spell of Oxford pressure, Crawley got into the ascendancy again. A goal in the last minute of injury time before half time, effectively ended the match. The generally ineffective but good at diving Mat Tubbs (my terrace neighbour amusingly referred to him as Tubbs (pen) !) hit the ball across the box, and it was picked up on the right by a Crawley player. What Clarke though he was doing, who knows. Maybe he was expecting a cross? Maybe it was supposed to be a cross? Whatever, he dived in a particularly eccentric direction, the ball bounced embarassingly off his waving legs and it was 3-1 and after a bit more crowd baiting from the Crawley players (again unpunished) it was halftime.
What a terrible half of football that had been from Oxford. Cringeworthy.
The ref made the half time 'Golden Ticket' draw. I wonder if he pulled out his own ticket. ;) It's a joke, yer honour!
No half time dancing girls. I'm starting to miss them. Bring back the Manorettes!
The second half started much as the first ended, with Crawley on top. It wasn't really a surprise when they scored a fourth. From a free kick wide on the Crawley right, the ball somehow went straight in. More dismal defending. The wall? The goalie? Rubbish. And the end of the match as far as the result was concerned.
CW made a couple of substitutions, Clarke made some decent saves and Crawley missed a couple. Good job, it could have been even worse. The time crawled past. The Oxford crowd did the pretend goal scoring thing, which at Sheffield had seemed quite amusing. Doing it away at Crawley seemed errm, tinpot in the extreme. The team surrendered without much fight, Beano blasting one over being just about the only shot of note.
It was a relief when the final whistle went, and we could go home. Some had left early, being jeered as 'loyal supporters' by our own crowd. Unfair. Travelling away to Crawley (and probably Sheffield) makes you a loyal supporter. Leaving five minutes from the end (not something I do myself) when three goals down and playing like a bunch of schoolgirls who've never met before actually seemed like a sensible thing to do as the fog started to come down. The players trudged off to a mixed reception.
Back in the car and a mostly fog free journey home. Good job I had some of that beer left that I bought after the Sheffield match!
Thoughts afterwards.
Bloody awful. That's two Saturdays (and a lot of money) wasted in a row. The worst performance since that drubbing away at Histon?
We seem to rely of the individual skills of players too much, rather than playing as a team. Which is fine when we are given the time and space in which to do so, but if a team closes us down quickly we are stuffed.
If we lose every match that Duberry doesn't play then we are too reliant on one player - the sign of a poor squad?
We made Crawley look like Brazil - no mean feat! They are energetic and efficient. We could take a leaf out of their book in fitness and closing down.
Bright spots? I'm struggling, but Constable's work rate and goal, having Robbie back, some of Davis' adventure maybe? No sendings off, no injuries? I'm clutching at straws really.
It's not the defeat (Crawley are doing well), it's the manner of the defeat that is worrying.
Next week's Cheltenham match suddenly becomes huge. If we are as poor at home as we have been in the last two away matches then I fear for what the rest of the season holds.
Never mind, it's only football. See you all next time...
Oxford United, Stereo Photography, Old Amusement Machines, Odd Musical Instruments and more.
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Just Call Me Mystic Meg
Robbie Hall left Oxford to go back to West Ham on the 31st October. Since then he has also appeared for a young England side, coming on as a sub and scoring the winning goal. On the 6th November, I posted the following on the Yellows forum:
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Well then, how about this for optimism...
Robbie joined us on the 12th September, and left on the 31st October - roughly 49 days. Emergency loans (which is what Robbie was) can last a maximum of 93 days. So, we can have him for another 44 days until the loan window opens on Jan 1st, when we could 'standard' loan him for the rest of the season. Counting back 44 days from the 1st January you get to the 17th November. So that's when he comes back. Misses the 2 cup matches which he wouldn't have featured in anyway and is back in time for our visit to Crawley on the 19th.
Wishful thinking maybe, but possible.
--------------------------------
Well then, how about this for optimism...
Robbie joined us on the 12th September, and left on the 31st October - roughly 49 days. Emergency loans (which is what Robbie was) can last a maximum of 93 days. So, we can have him for another 44 days until the loan window opens on Jan 1st, when we could 'standard' loan him for the rest of the season. Counting back 44 days from the 1st January you get to the 17th November. So that's when he comes back. Misses the 2 cup matches which he wouldn't have featured in anyway and is back in time for our visit to Crawley on the 19th.
Wishful thinking maybe, but possible.
Saturday, 12 November 2011
A Cut Above (vs Sheffield Utd FA Cup)
Hi all,
After the ridiculous match in the much-derided JPT on Tuesday evening (which I didn't attend) it was time for a more serious cup match today. Away at Sheffield Utd, who are at the top end of League One. It was always going to be a stern test, but even more so with the roll call of Oxford's injured and suspended. Duberry was certainly out, Potter, Davis and Batt were doubtful. Craddock was suspended and will be for two matches after this one. Idiot.
Now as far as I am concerned, Duberry, Batt, Davis and Potter have been some of the better performers this season. Without them, it looked like a 'big ask'. But ever hopeful, I set out. This time by train (Bedford > Leicester > Sheffield). As far as I can remember, I haven't been to Sheffield before and certainly not to Bramall Lane. So it was a new experience. The trains were remarkable for two things. For being punctual (take a bow East Midland Trains) and for having no other obvious football supporters on them. I guess that's a result of there being no Prem or Championship games today due to the international matches and friendlies. Unusual to see no other shirts though.
Bramall Lane isn't too far from the train station, and is an easy walk. I got there fairly early, in time to see the players warming up. Uh-oh. No Duberry (expected), no Potter, no Davis. Batt at least had made it though. There were hundreds of Oxford fans already there and seemigly hundreds of players on the pitch. Then I remembered that it was seven subs on the bench for FA Cup matches.
Bramall Lane itself is an impressive stadium, a relic of the Blades foray into the higher leagues. Appparently they get good crowds there normally, but it didn't look like they were expecting a bumper attendance today. We were housed in the bottom tier of the stand behind one goal, the steeply banked kop stand opposite us was completely empty, closed for the match. Our stand filled up impressively, the two remaining home stands didn't. I realise that for them, it wasn't a glamour tie - but at only £10 to get in I'm surprised that more hadn't made the effort. There was a big monitor showing replays, team news etc but unfortunately it was in the corner next to us and was obsured by a load of netting, the overhang of the top tier and the inability of Oxford supporters to twist their necks around like Meercats.
But the teams ran out to a rousing welcome from us, followed by a well observed Remembrance Day minutes silence. There was a bit of a stunned silence from the Yellow hordes as the team became obvious.
Clarke , Batt - Whing - Wright - Kinniburgh at the back, with McLaren in front.
Franks, Asa Hall, Heslop and Leven in the middle with Smalley up front. No Constable, no Worley.
Agruably either a 4-4-2 if Franks was up front and McLaren was in midfield, or a 4-1-4-1 if not. Very defensive. A striker or pair of strikers with one goal between them this season. Hmm. Never mind. Smalley might surpise me, although playing as the lone striker isn't what he supposed to be good at. Other worries were Kinniburgh (arguably our fourth choice left back) and a lack of heading ability in central defence. The bench was noteworthy as well with both Tonkin and James (who were I thought injured) on it as well as Constable, Worley, Payne and youth teamers Tyrone Marsh and Max Crocombe (gk). I think we could count Tonkin, James and Crocombe as bench warmers. Marsh might get a run out I suppose, but unlikely.
The half kicked off with us kicking away from the supporters towards the vacant stand. It was oddly like playing at home, with nobody behind the far goal. As usual, the travelling fans were getting behond the team. The home fans were quiet.
It has to be said that I would prefer to draw a bit of a veil over the first half, but in the pursuit of accuracy, here goes.
We were awful. On the back foot from the kick off, we took that back foot and added two left feet to it. Passes were overhit, underhit, not hit at all. The ball was hoofed into the air whenever we got it. Which wasn't often. Sheffield just had to wait for us to make a mistake, which we did all too often. They closed us down quickly, we dithered on the ball. Off the ball movement is obviously an old fashioned concept, although Sheffield were still doing it. Get with the times, Blades. Standing still is the new running.
Sheffield looked threatening every time they went forward, we didn't go forward. It was absolutely no surprise when we went one down after about 10 minutes. The ball was crossed into our penalty area, bobbled about a bit, our defenders stood on too much ceremony and a Sheffield player banged it past Clarke from reasonably close range. All over the pitch, yellow shoulders went down. They were bring given a bit of a footballing lesson and having been set up very defensively to start with it was going to be hard to get back into it. The goal spurred Sheffield on (as if they needed it) and didn't give our players a boot up the arse they needed. After about 20 minutes Clarke made a good save, but then Whing pushed a Sheffield player rather unneccessarily close to the penalty area. The ball seemed to go through the wall from the free kick and we were two down.
It's a good job there was nobody in the far stand, they wouldn't have had anything to watch. The prospect of an embarrassing scoreline was now staring us in the face. Clarke made another good stop, and the Blades had another goal ruled out for offside a couple of minutes later. Looked OK to me actually, but thanks lino. Talking of the officials, the ref was having a good match - letting the game flow without being to picky. It wasn't a dirty game though, so I guess he had an easier job than sometimes. Nice to see a decent official - we've had some stinkers recently. Clarke saved us again, but Sheffield had taken their foot off the gas. Up the other end? Nothing. I'm not Smalley's biggest fan, but he was dealt a difficult hand today. The ball was hoofed up to him head high. Nobody near him most of the time, except for a host of decent defenders. We were still doing the basics badly. Passing wildly or too hard. Backing off and off and off at the back, not getting tight enough in midfield, moving the ball backwards (and across the face of our own goal all too often). It wasn't pretty.
Half time came (I'm glad that's over). We hadn't looked like winning the match from the very first kick, had made no chances, zero, zip, zilch. We were lucky not to be four or five down if we are honest. For me, it showed CW as being a bit inflexible - I'd have done something after the second goal. What? Well I'd have taken Franks off (he was doing little in his hybrid midfield/striker role) and brought Constable on up front to partner Smalley. At the very least he would have made a nuisance of himself, something that neither Smalley or Franks were. You could also have put Franks up front with Constable I guess. I would also have taken Kinniburgh off. Moved Wright to left back and put Worley in central defence. He'd played well against Southend and I was surprised he hadn't started. Alternatively I'd have strengthened the defence by adding Worley to make a back five (like at Southend) but allowed Whing to play in front of the defence with Mclaren to try and get hold of the ball in midfield. That might all be rubbish - but I think CW should have done something rather than nothing after the second goal went in. Although we were 'only' two down at half time I couldn't really see us getting back into it now.
No half time dancing girls, cross-bar challenges or anything. Can't say I missed it.
For the second half, CW made some changes. Constable on, Franks off. Worley on, McLaren off. To be honest, both McLaren and the usually reliable Leven had not been having the best of games. Immediately we looked better. No particularly threatening, but certainly better. Constable had what was really our first chance of the match within five minutes of the restart, but got no power on his header and the goalie had no problems with it. It hadn't really improved that much really, Clarke called upon again to keep the score down at the other end. For the first quarter of an hour we had some impetus, and for the first time looked like a half decent side though. Another weak header was all we had to show for it though and Sheffield ended the contest with twenty minutes to go. A weak punch by Clarke lead to all sorts of mayhem in the Oxford box, and despite some gallant attempts to block the ball by Jake Wright, it was eventually hit home. Three nil. Didn't really flatter Sheffield if we're telling the truth. Payne came on for Leven, made no difference.
As a contest the match fizzled out. In the Oxford stand though, the match was still well alive. "Let's pretend we've scored a goal!" Three - One! We were back in it. A couple of minutes later, blimey! It happened again. Three - Two and we were in with a chance. The crowd equaliser came just before full time - Three all. 'Four three, we're gonna win four three'. But the final whistle went before we could score the winner - guess it will have to be a replay then! :)
The final whistle went, and the 2,000 or so yellows gave the players a rousing send off. It hadn't been the best performance really, but the second half had been better and the players had worked hard. Although that is the minimum we should expect. My man of the match? Well surprisingly, Asa Hall. I thought he popped up everywhere on the pitch, had a decent far post header, made some tackles, ran about off the ball.
A quick walk back to the station, spent much of the journey back to Leicester talking to a couple of Leicester Yellows and a friendly Blade, who makes the trip to Sheffield from Telford for home matches. Hello to any of you who are reading this - made for an enjoyable journey home. Felt I had to drop into the supermarket for some alcohol supplies before I went home, got back to be greeted by Mrs ZtH with 'You got my text then.' 'What text?' ' The once where I asked you to buy milk, butter and cat litter on the way home.' 'Errm...' 'What's in this supermarket bag then?' 'Beer, cider and crisps.' Ooops.
Thoughts on the match...
Take three or four of the best players out of a league two side and ask them to play a top four league one side and it's too much.
Start in too defensive a mind-set and you can't just turn the attack on.
Oxford players - sometimes the simple ball is the best one.
A pity we didn't make more of a go at this - I wonder how much the lost revenue from no cup run will effect us be able to bring (back?) in loan players to help the faltering attack?
Next - another toughie, this time at Crawley. Hopefully we'll have some more players to choose from. See you there!
After the ridiculous match in the much-derided JPT on Tuesday evening (which I didn't attend) it was time for a more serious cup match today. Away at Sheffield Utd, who are at the top end of League One. It was always going to be a stern test, but even more so with the roll call of Oxford's injured and suspended. Duberry was certainly out, Potter, Davis and Batt were doubtful. Craddock was suspended and will be for two matches after this one. Idiot.
Now as far as I am concerned, Duberry, Batt, Davis and Potter have been some of the better performers this season. Without them, it looked like a 'big ask'. But ever hopeful, I set out. This time by train (Bedford > Leicester > Sheffield). As far as I can remember, I haven't been to Sheffield before and certainly not to Bramall Lane. So it was a new experience. The trains were remarkable for two things. For being punctual (take a bow East Midland Trains) and for having no other obvious football supporters on them. I guess that's a result of there being no Prem or Championship games today due to the international matches and friendlies. Unusual to see no other shirts though.
Bramall Lane isn't too far from the train station, and is an easy walk. I got there fairly early, in time to see the players warming up. Uh-oh. No Duberry (expected), no Potter, no Davis. Batt at least had made it though. There were hundreds of Oxford fans already there and seemigly hundreds of players on the pitch. Then I remembered that it was seven subs on the bench for FA Cup matches.
Bramall Lane itself is an impressive stadium, a relic of the Blades foray into the higher leagues. Appparently they get good crowds there normally, but it didn't look like they were expecting a bumper attendance today. We were housed in the bottom tier of the stand behind one goal, the steeply banked kop stand opposite us was completely empty, closed for the match. Our stand filled up impressively, the two remaining home stands didn't. I realise that for them, it wasn't a glamour tie - but at only £10 to get in I'm surprised that more hadn't made the effort. There was a big monitor showing replays, team news etc but unfortunately it was in the corner next to us and was obsured by a load of netting, the overhang of the top tier and the inability of Oxford supporters to twist their necks around like Meercats.
But the teams ran out to a rousing welcome from us, followed by a well observed Remembrance Day minutes silence. There was a bit of a stunned silence from the Yellow hordes as the team became obvious.
Clarke , Batt - Whing - Wright - Kinniburgh at the back, with McLaren in front.
Franks, Asa Hall, Heslop and Leven in the middle with Smalley up front. No Constable, no Worley.
Agruably either a 4-4-2 if Franks was up front and McLaren was in midfield, or a 4-1-4-1 if not. Very defensive. A striker or pair of strikers with one goal between them this season. Hmm. Never mind. Smalley might surpise me, although playing as the lone striker isn't what he supposed to be good at. Other worries were Kinniburgh (arguably our fourth choice left back) and a lack of heading ability in central defence. The bench was noteworthy as well with both Tonkin and James (who were I thought injured) on it as well as Constable, Worley, Payne and youth teamers Tyrone Marsh and Max Crocombe (gk). I think we could count Tonkin, James and Crocombe as bench warmers. Marsh might get a run out I suppose, but unlikely.
The half kicked off with us kicking away from the supporters towards the vacant stand. It was oddly like playing at home, with nobody behind the far goal. As usual, the travelling fans were getting behond the team. The home fans were quiet.
It has to be said that I would prefer to draw a bit of a veil over the first half, but in the pursuit of accuracy, here goes.
We were awful. On the back foot from the kick off, we took that back foot and added two left feet to it. Passes were overhit, underhit, not hit at all. The ball was hoofed into the air whenever we got it. Which wasn't often. Sheffield just had to wait for us to make a mistake, which we did all too often. They closed us down quickly, we dithered on the ball. Off the ball movement is obviously an old fashioned concept, although Sheffield were still doing it. Get with the times, Blades. Standing still is the new running.
Sheffield looked threatening every time they went forward, we didn't go forward. It was absolutely no surprise when we went one down after about 10 minutes. The ball was crossed into our penalty area, bobbled about a bit, our defenders stood on too much ceremony and a Sheffield player banged it past Clarke from reasonably close range. All over the pitch, yellow shoulders went down. They were bring given a bit of a footballing lesson and having been set up very defensively to start with it was going to be hard to get back into it. The goal spurred Sheffield on (as if they needed it) and didn't give our players a boot up the arse they needed. After about 20 minutes Clarke made a good save, but then Whing pushed a Sheffield player rather unneccessarily close to the penalty area. The ball seemed to go through the wall from the free kick and we were two down.
It's a good job there was nobody in the far stand, they wouldn't have had anything to watch. The prospect of an embarrassing scoreline was now staring us in the face. Clarke made another good stop, and the Blades had another goal ruled out for offside a couple of minutes later. Looked OK to me actually, but thanks lino. Talking of the officials, the ref was having a good match - letting the game flow without being to picky. It wasn't a dirty game though, so I guess he had an easier job than sometimes. Nice to see a decent official - we've had some stinkers recently. Clarke saved us again, but Sheffield had taken their foot off the gas. Up the other end? Nothing. I'm not Smalley's biggest fan, but he was dealt a difficult hand today. The ball was hoofed up to him head high. Nobody near him most of the time, except for a host of decent defenders. We were still doing the basics badly. Passing wildly or too hard. Backing off and off and off at the back, not getting tight enough in midfield, moving the ball backwards (and across the face of our own goal all too often). It wasn't pretty.
Half time came (I'm glad that's over). We hadn't looked like winning the match from the very first kick, had made no chances, zero, zip, zilch. We were lucky not to be four or five down if we are honest. For me, it showed CW as being a bit inflexible - I'd have done something after the second goal. What? Well I'd have taken Franks off (he was doing little in his hybrid midfield/striker role) and brought Constable on up front to partner Smalley. At the very least he would have made a nuisance of himself, something that neither Smalley or Franks were. You could also have put Franks up front with Constable I guess. I would also have taken Kinniburgh off. Moved Wright to left back and put Worley in central defence. He'd played well against Southend and I was surprised he hadn't started. Alternatively I'd have strengthened the defence by adding Worley to make a back five (like at Southend) but allowed Whing to play in front of the defence with Mclaren to try and get hold of the ball in midfield. That might all be rubbish - but I think CW should have done something rather than nothing after the second goal went in. Although we were 'only' two down at half time I couldn't really see us getting back into it now.
No half time dancing girls, cross-bar challenges or anything. Can't say I missed it.
For the second half, CW made some changes. Constable on, Franks off. Worley on, McLaren off. To be honest, both McLaren and the usually reliable Leven had not been having the best of games. Immediately we looked better. No particularly threatening, but certainly better. Constable had what was really our first chance of the match within five minutes of the restart, but got no power on his header and the goalie had no problems with it. It hadn't really improved that much really, Clarke called upon again to keep the score down at the other end. For the first quarter of an hour we had some impetus, and for the first time looked like a half decent side though. Another weak header was all we had to show for it though and Sheffield ended the contest with twenty minutes to go. A weak punch by Clarke lead to all sorts of mayhem in the Oxford box, and despite some gallant attempts to block the ball by Jake Wright, it was eventually hit home. Three nil. Didn't really flatter Sheffield if we're telling the truth. Payne came on for Leven, made no difference.
As a contest the match fizzled out. In the Oxford stand though, the match was still well alive. "Let's pretend we've scored a goal!" Three - One! We were back in it. A couple of minutes later, blimey! It happened again. Three - Two and we were in with a chance. The crowd equaliser came just before full time - Three all. 'Four three, we're gonna win four three'. But the final whistle went before we could score the winner - guess it will have to be a replay then! :)
The final whistle went, and the 2,000 or so yellows gave the players a rousing send off. It hadn't been the best performance really, but the second half had been better and the players had worked hard. Although that is the minimum we should expect. My man of the match? Well surprisingly, Asa Hall. I thought he popped up everywhere on the pitch, had a decent far post header, made some tackles, ran about off the ball.
A quick walk back to the station, spent much of the journey back to Leicester talking to a couple of Leicester Yellows and a friendly Blade, who makes the trip to Sheffield from Telford for home matches. Hello to any of you who are reading this - made for an enjoyable journey home. Felt I had to drop into the supermarket for some alcohol supplies before I went home, got back to be greeted by Mrs ZtH with 'You got my text then.' 'What text?' ' The once where I asked you to buy milk, butter and cat litter on the way home.' 'Errm...' 'What's in this supermarket bag then?' 'Beer, cider and crisps.' Ooops.
Thoughts on the match...
Take three or four of the best players out of a league two side and ask them to play a top four league one side and it's too much.
Start in too defensive a mind-set and you can't just turn the attack on.
Oxford players - sometimes the simple ball is the best one.
A pity we didn't make more of a go at this - I wonder how much the lost revenue from no cup run will effect us be able to bring (back?) in loan players to help the faltering attack?
Next - another toughie, this time at Crawley. Hopefully we'll have some more players to choose from. See you there!
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