Fantastic result and a reasonably sound performance without ever being spectacular. It was the blueprint from last season really. Weather a bit of an early storm, score a goal, sit tight on it until the hour mark and then change to 4-5-1. Saw that a few times last season.
I was quite surprised by a few names in the starting 11. Taft instead of Cansdell-Sherriff. Knowles instead of McGurk / Kee. Macdonald starting.
We gave them too much space 30 yards out in the first half and too much space on the flanks and on the overlap to deliver crosses. However, their attacks yielded a few shots at McLaughlan and that was about it. Second half they created next to nothing - a free header from their striker (who was garbage) went wide when he should have done better and a shot at the end that hit the side netting.
We did next to nothing aswell really. Knowles was set up by Akins in the first half but he swung a boot at it 8 yards out and made a mess of it. Beavon had a shot I would have saved and the goal. Errrr....that was about it.
Not being a fan of pre-season friendlies it was my first chance to see the new signings. There's a lot of height in our team now with Taft, Akins and Mousinho.
McLaughlan - A bit like Tommo. Commands the area well and good on crosses. His kicking was a bit awry today. He saved everything that was hit at him and you can't ask for more.
Taft - A good performance.
Mousinho - A very languid style and played very deep breaking play up. A tall, physical presence.
Beavon - Played intelligently throughout the game. Some good touches and clearly a good player who will create and score goals.
Akins - Different class. Good in the air and on the deck. Faded a bit in the second half.
I think Robbie Weir was man of the match.
Overall, extremely pleased with my day and we will undoubtedly finish in the top 7 again based upon what I saw today. It might be a bit like last season with 1-0 being a common scoreline but we have a good squad and some talented individuals.
Oxford 0 Brewers 1
posted on 10/8/14
Didn't go to the match. Sounds like it was a solid, professional performance at a difficult place to get a result. I think that a lot of people will need to be convinced that hoofball as been abandoned before returning to the Pirelli. Was there much of it yesterday?
posted on 10/8/14
No, it was largely hoofball free Frank. Any long ball stuff was played a bit more intelligently down the channels.
Whenever I go to the Kassam I always compare their home game match experience to our own. Leaving aside the fact that I find it to be a sterile (3 sided) ground with no atmosphere (some say the Pirelli is the same for atmosphere) I am always bemused by the car parking.
I arrived at 1pm through a timing / driving miscalculation and my need for a pre-match Chinese buffet and the car parking on that long road close to the ground had already started ! I saw fans sat in their cars;
- Reading the Saturday papers;
- Eating a packed lunch;
- Sleeping;
- Listening to the radio;
- Reading the matchday programme;
- Reading a book.
All to park free and as close to the ground as possible.
I wouldn't want to 'lose' a few hours out of my weekend for our home games.
posted on 10/8/14
This comment just for Don. I heard a few muffled and subdued anti Swindon chants.
posted on 11/8/14
Good to see that Jon McLaughlin(BBC always get it wrong) kept a clean sheet.
I was sorry to see him go although you'll find his kicking has always been erratic.
Best of luck for the season, hopefully you'll make the automatics this time.