Some fairly outlandish criticism for a performance which, whilst never comfortable, was professional. I can’t understand some of the “yet another poor game” comments when, up until yesterday, we’ve barely looked like losing a game during this impressive run. The fact is that, for my money at least, Oxford are the best team I’ve seen at this level since we were relegated and they came to Roots Hall looking to attack us from the start.
I can’t imagine that, having watched Oxford prior to this, Sturrock would enter this game without JPK in mind to counter their passing game throughout midfield and I’d guess that his withdrawal from the squad, which is perfectly understandable, upset the applecart and forced Sturrock to scramble. We needed an enforcer on the pitch yesterday and we were quickly found wanting.
What was most impressive about Oxford for me was the patient build-up. Very rarely at this level will you see a side as happy as Oxford were to knock the ball around from left to right and back again, probing for an opening, without getting trigger happy. Perhaps this was because our midfield was run a little ragged at times, but that’s the kind of movement that’ll wear teams down and allow Oxford to grind out results they need to – especially away from home. The high(ish) tempo they liked to play at ultimately led to their downfall, but I’ll cover that later.
Their passing game was complimented by their pressing game, which caused Kane Ferdinand to telephone in a fairly abysmal performance, but one that ultimately wasn’t entirely his fault. As YB covered earlier, Hall out on the right might look to be an exceptional outlet for us, but it doesn’t half allow a considerable amount of pressure to seep into the midfield from our right-flank. Oxford knew this all too well, as they deployed Dean Smalley (those of us present at Boundary Park to see us relegated from League One will remember the tearing he gave Johnny Herd that afternoon) on the left with a view to cut inside when he came on. On current form, Hall’s probably the first name on the team sheet but I’d personally prefer to keep him behind Dickinson and have Leonard and Timlin on the flanks, with JPK/Grant partnering Kane in midfield.
I know I keep saying this, but the strength of our performances of late has always been about the balance in our midfield. We’re set up in a way that allows us to play the rough with the smooth, for the guile of Ferdinand’s probing runs, we have the rugged enforcer of Kalala and for the industrious nature of Ryan Leonard, we have the more gifted creator in Michael Timlin. The 4-4-1-1 we’ve played coincided not just with a winning streak, but with consecutive clean sheets purely because the load on the defence is vastly reduced. I think we’ll go back to that on Tuesday night, with Harris dropping out of the side.
I really can’t understand the criticism for Timlin, either. Ok, he struggled when we were getting overrun in midfield but, Christ, who wouldn’t? For much of the game, Timlin and Ferdinand were thrown to the wolves as Oxford played a high defensive line to keep the pressure on. As soon as that pressure was removed, both immediately in the second half and after Grant replaced Hall, Timlin looked more assured and was able to do what he does best – dictate the tempo from the middle of the park. That substitution, of Hall to come off, wasn’t greatly received at all around me, but it did exactly what it promised to do – it killed the game. The speed and ferocity were removed straight away and bought us the time to take a few breaths, assess the situation and batten the hatches down to protect the three points.
Just one more note on Ferdinand. Definitely his worst performance for us for some time, but one that probably needed to come. He’s had it all too easy up until yesterday, what with Kalala protecting him and finding time and space to score, but he’ll need to have these games if he’s to develop as a midfielder. It’s all about the learning curve and, as poor as he was, he will take something from that game yesterday. He’d have learnt that he won’t have his way every game, and there will be times he’ll have to be considerably more careful with the ball than he usually is.
Also criticism for the front pairing, some of it justified, but they were largely isolated for most of the game as Oxford penned us in and resorted to trying to latch onto aimless punts out of our defensive area. This isn’t Dickinson’s game and it certainly isn’t Harris’, but the former admirably run himself into the ground in an attempt to create something for himself.
Defensively, we done well to stand up to the significant challenge that Oxford mounted, but some displays were better than others. There was a marked improvement in Clohessy as soon as Grant replaced Hall to offer better protection, and Phillips was the better of the two centre halves solely because he looked capable of timing his headers. Barker’s had this problem before, just a split millisecond to the ball too late and his clearance is going high rather than long. It’s perhaps a sign that he’s slowing down, but more a sign that he could perhaps do with a rest to recharge the batteries after a long, arduous run. We’re only allowed to make three changes for Tuesday I think, and he’d be one of them. Bring Mohsni or Prosser in and let Barker back in for Saturday.
Gilbert wasn’t brilliant, but it emphasises the improvement he’s made for us in comparison to last season that people were disappointed in him yesterday. That was a standard 2010/11 performance from Gilbert, but that’s as bad as I’ve seen him this season so, with any luck, it’d be good to see put it behind him and return to form quickly.
Not much to say about Daniels that hasn’t already been said. Superb showing from a young ‘keeper and you can see why both Tranmere and Shrewsbury determined him to be player of the season during his loan spells. Kicking was a bit off, but you can’t have everything. The point-blank save from the header in the first half was sensational.
Much like Gillingham earlier on in the season who came to Roots Hall all guns blazing, Oxford really tired towards the 70 minute mark and Hall’s wonder strike knocked the stuffing out of them. The strike itself was technically magnificent. As soon as Hall picked up the ball, he knew what he was doing and he was in total control at all the times. The quick step-over and feint of the shoulder pushed his marker back onto his left foot, buying Hall the extra half-yard he needed to the the ball drift onto his favoured foot and blast home. When we signed Hall he was quite obviously a diamond in the rough, but it’s that kind of skill (the stepover to buy space, not the strike) that shows real refinement and, unfortunately for us, it’s exactly what scouts will be looking for when assessing him. I’d love him to stay, but it really won’t be long until people are falling over themselves to hand us wads of cash to prize him away.
Back to Oxford to finish though, and they’ll certainly be in contention come May. I wasn’t particularly impressed by Constable who seemed more interested in fouling Phillips by flinging a stray elbow about, but I can see why he’ll notch a reasonable tally this year. Batt’s header to equalise was superbly taken, and if Smalley isn’t starting then they’ve got authentic quality to come on and change a game.
A really, really good three points to pick up, a result which keeps us eight points ahead of Oxford. A sizeable gap, and they’re precisely the kind of side we’ll need to keep at arm’s length. Although Cheltenham are on a great run, Oxford looked a side capable of stringing a winning run together much like we’ve done and leading an assault on the top three. If we can stay above them, we won’t be in League Two much longer.
