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Sport
Oxford United 2017/18 season: August – December
Early potential for experimental side as Pep settles in THE deadwood has been given the boot and the pre-season fixtures have been pencilled in the diary. And that’s just as well for Oxford United fans, who will be in a rush to put the 2017/18 season at the back of their minds. Following a summer of disruption, the inexperienced Pep Clotet was charged with steadying the ship of a side who had lost the popular Michael Appleton from the hotseat as well as a handful of star players. The plan was to build on the success of the previous year which included a play-off charge following promotion. But nothing’s that simple. Between August and May, the U’s teased their fans as they flirted with the play-offs before dragging them into a relegation battle and a laughable 59-day managerial hunt. There was no cup run of previous years, but there was at least a positive start, a takeover and saviour Karl Robinson rescued them from the drop. Here, George Welch starts a review of the season with a look back at 2017
August – Introduction: Gino van Kessel scores a debut goal in the 3-0 home win against Portsmouth. Oxford United go top of the table after two games
August
September – Rough patch: Erhun Oztumer, known as the Turkish Messi, gives Walsall the lead on the way to the West Midlanders’ 2-1 win at the Kassam. It is the middle game in three match losing streak for Oxford
October – Turning point: Curtis Nelson stabs home United’s third and final goal in the draw with Rotherham United. United scoop eight points from five matches to move within a couple of points of the play-offs.
OXFORD had impressed under Michael Appleton the previous year, with many players catching the eyes of teams higher up the league ladder. Skipper John Lundstram (Sheffield United), influential winger Marvin Johnson (Middlesbrough), towering defender Chey Dunkley (Wigan Athletic) and 2016/17 top scorer Chris Maguire (Bury) all moved on. This gave Clotet a mini rebuilding job so, utilising his European contacts, in came a cohort of ‘Pep Clotet’ players that represented relics and memories of the Spaniard’s coaching career. In came the Malmo class of 2010, consisting Ricardinho, Ivo Pekalski and Agon Mehmeti, while Xemi, Dwight Tiendalli and Gino van Kessel swelled the overseas contingent. Jon Obika, Mike Williamson, Scott Shearer, John Mousinho and James Henry were added to the Oxford ranks and Jack Payne and Alex Mowatt joined on loan. The uninspiring recruitment record contributed to the former Swansea City and Leeds United assistant’s departure in the new year. However, the Pep era got off to the perfect start with the club’s fi rst ever victory at Oldham Athletic in the opening game of the season. Wes Thomas netted a debut goal that day and the striker was on target again in the 3-0 dismantling of Portsmouth in the fi rst league game, sending the U’s top of the table. Defeat at Scunthorpe United and a draw at Shrewsbury Town weren’t the end of the world, especially given they both made the play-offs. Seventh in League One at the end of August, United kicked off their Checkatrade Trophy with an emphatic 6-2 victory at Stevenage as youngster Shandon Baptiste made his senior debut. The Carabao Cup campaign was short-lived however, losing 4-3 at home to League Two’s Cheltenham Town in extra time.
November – Too little, too late: Jack Payne pulls a goal back for United against Blackburn Rovers. 3-0 down after 22 minutes, the U’s lose 4-2. Pressure on Pep Clotet mounts
September
THE fi rst rough patch of the campaign came in the second month of the season with three successive defeats. A 3-0 crushing of Gillingham sandwiched by draws with Milton Keynes Dons (A) and Bradford City (A) meant the Yellows started September brightly and on the tail of the early-season pacesetters. There was some breathtaking football at this point. But United proved fragile as they lost against Blackpool (A), Walsall (H) and Bury (A) in quick succession to plummet down the table. The inconsistent performances of Clotet’s side were epitomised by the 4-1 win at Peterborough United that followed. A goal down at half time, a rejuvenated Oxford bounced back in the second half to blow their hosts away. Agon Mehmeti netted the fi nal goal – and his only goal for the club – in what was one of the small number of highlights under Clotet.
October
THE Posh turnaround seemed a turning point. Back-to-back league wins followed against AFC Wimbledon (H) and rivals Bristol Rovers (A) before respectable points were collected in home games against Karl Robinson’s Charlton Athletic and Rotherham United, both fi nishing the campaign in the top-six. Two goals in the fi nal couple of minutes saw United lose 2-0 at Fleetwood Town at the end of the month, preventing an unbeaten October – and probably a manager of the month nomination for Clotet. Oxford also drew 2-2 with Brighton and Hove Albion’s academy side in the Checkatrade Trophy at the start of the month, picking up a point after losing on penalties. Setbacks were expected but, while United were two points off the playoffs heading into November, the best performances came before Halloween.