Who Are Ya? - Oxford United (Q&A)

The last time The Imps hosted tomorrow’s opponents Oxford United was on Saturday 12th September 2021. City won 2-0 that day, thanks to goals from Anthony Scully (7′) and Adam Jackson (74′). The visitors finished the match with ten men when Rob Atkinson was sent off in stoppage-time for a foul on Harry Anderson.

Ahead of tomorrow’s match, we have done a Q&A with an Oxford United supporter, so thank you to Dale from Vital Oxford United for answering our questions!

How long have you supported Oxford United?

Around 20 years.

Where did you finish last season?

Sixth. Lost in the semi-finals of the play-offs against eventual winners Blackpool.

What do you think of your manager?

Love the bloke. Has the club’s best interests at heart and has built an exceptional squad that plays brilliant football.

What are your hopes and expectations for the 2021/22 season?

Given the start we have made, anything other than a top-six finish would be a major disappointment.

One(s) to watch?

Given the bright start we have made, there are a few! The midfield duo of Cameron Brannagan and Herbie Kane is one of the best in the division. Mark Sykes has really upped his game this season and scored eight goals while Matty Taylor will always remain a threat in front of goal.

Which teams do you think will finish in the top six in League One?

Rotherham United, Wigan Athletic, Sunderland, Oxford United, Portsmouth and Sheffield Wednesday. That will make for an interesting play-offs!

Which teams do you think will finish in the bottom four in League One?

Doncaster Rovers, Crewe Alexandra, Gillingham and Morecambe.

What are your thoughts on Lincoln City?

A great footballing side that have unfortunately suffered a hangover from last season’s playoff final defeat.

What do you think the score will be?

Lincoln have a good defensive record compared to those around them and I think they’ll be hard to break down, so I’ve gone for a 1-0 win.

Random fact about your Club?

We were the first club to win a major trophy (Milk Cup in 1986) to be relegated from the Football League.

If you could steal one Lincoln City player for your own team, who would it be and why?

I like left-back Jamie Robson (we were linked with him before), and that’s also the case with Hakeeb Adelakun. However, I would take Anthony Scully. He scored in the last three games against us and continues to look a real threat.

What are your proudest and most embarrassing moments as an Oxford United supporter?

Proudest was promotion from the Conference in 2010. Promotion from League Two in 2016 was also up there.

Embarrassing would be relegation from the Football League – a 3-2 defeat at home to Leyton Orient on the final day of the 2005/06 season.

Who would you say is your most underrated player?

I really like Steve Seddon at left-back, having scored three and laid on five assists. As previously mentioned, Sykes has come on leaps and bounds this season. Ryan Williams has been unlucky with injuries and squad selection but is a class player at this level.

Do you have a Supporters Trust and what role do they play at the Club?

OxVox – OxVox is a non-profit making Supporters Trust, run by fans, for fans, with membership open to all Oxford United supporters everywhere.

Which was your favourite match involving Oxford United?

Any of the wins over Swindon are all good. We’ve also had a couple of 6-0 away wins (Lincoln and Crewe) that are up there. Middlesbrough away in the FA Cup was also an incredible day out.

Which was your least favourite match involving Oxford United?

Leyton Orient defeat to condemn us to relegation into non-league.

After making the Play-Offs for the last two seasons, is anything other than automatic promotion a failure for you this season?

I wouldn’t say finishing outside the top two would be a failure, given the quality of teams in the division. But, as I said earlier, finishing below the playoffs would be unacceptable.

Are you confident in your club’s ability to make the step up to the Championship if you gain promotion?

Yes. I think we have a balanced squad with a couple of players that have Championship experience. That said (and it’s the case with any promoted sides) we would need to recruit well in the summer.