Home Match Day Thread 05/04/25: Championship - OUFC v Sheffield United

[Northstandboy]

 

[Yellowmania]

As fantastic as our fans were I was surprised how quiet Sheffield fans were. For a top of the table team fighting for promotion they were pretty quiet.

Probably one of the quietest I’ve heard this season at the Kasstad.

 

[holdsteady]

As fantastic as our fans were I was surprised how quiet Sheffield fans were. For a top of the table team fighting for promotion they were pretty quiet.

Probably one of the quietest I’ve heard this season at the Kasstad.

Think they came expecting a walkover, given the game at theirs that’s fair enough. We are a very different team at home compared to away though, only the top 4 and Bristol City have taken significantly more points than us at home and apart from the Middlesbrough tanking we have been competitive in the other 19 games.

 

[Village-Yellow]

Good! Proper sulky t**t.

He was very magnanimous in defeat.

 

[Daviddidcotexile]

Interesting that defeats attract twice as many posts on the thread. We obviously like a good moan!

Brilliant victory that caught most of us out. Great atmosphere. Can't wait for Wednesday

 

[Oxymoron]

Awful highlights on the ITV evening show, where we were the feature game.

Skipped the first 20 minutes, showed Cummings saves, the goal and then nothing but Sheffield and pictures of a wistfull Wilder looking on.

I know we didn't do much in the second half, but you'd a thought the breakaway that we eventually messed up was worth an airing...

 

[Osleroad]

Agree with that we look so more solid with Ter Avest at right back.

He has cemented a place and kudos to GR for recognising and sticking with him

 

[Marked Ox]

Just went onto the Sheffield United forum to see what they thought of it. Seemingly it was down to our substandard pitch.....

Tbf, plenty said we deserved the win but those blaming the pitch or more amusingly the 'strong' wind made me chuckle. It wasn't a gentle breeze but 'strong' it wasn't.

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Just went onto the Sheffield United forum to see what they thought of it. Seemingly it was down to our substandard pitch.....

This pitch?!

Home Match Day Thread Post in thread '05/04/25: Championship - OUFC v Sheffield United'

5 Apr 2025

Playing surface looking excellent

• West Oxon U’s

• 

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

#teamslikeoxford

 

[milkmaid]

What. A. Day....

Late to the party cos i went straight out after the game to see bands (gimic are the greatest band ever imo and you should see them every chance you get) but that was amazing...I usually watch my local team (trowbridge town) but the game was called off at midday cos they couldn't raise a team (f*****g joke, right?) and I was pissed at that but it meant I got to see our game and just wow...Cumming rightly taking plaudits for his work today but Ciaron Brown is something else..So understated and yet so utterly commited and just a brilliant defender...The tackle second half when they were in...how does he even get there to make a challenge? We kept the best team in the league to very little but had the quality when we needed it...Should have made it 2 when we broke and a more alert El Miz would have helped but still...6 mins injury time and it was comfortable...

I'm going to the Cardiff game cos I thought that would be the one to make it safe (or make me cry) but it might even be all done by then which would be some achievement...Rowettball may not be pretty but when we defend like that you can totally see why he does it...and we do have the defenders to make it work...Nelson is superb and Helik too and we're doing this without Moore who usually makes everyone else play better whatever he does himself and Ter Evest too - where have you been all season? You look like you were born for this...

Having way too much gin rn but f**k...We are staying up!!!

COYY!!

 

[chuckbert]

Two things we could work on to have made the second half easier …
1. Concentrate on not giving the ball away stupidly after breaking out. There was some really depressing failure to retain the ball after the long, hard work of winning it back, mainly through silly errors rather than masterful opposition.
2. Only ever give the ball to zemy’s feet. Alternatively give him a crash course in dealing with balls that are more than 30cm off the ground.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

That was the first time we have beaten a Chris Wilder team in OX4 since August 2006 when his Halifax team were beaten 2-0.

We never triumphed against his Northampton teams here and Sheffield Utd won here in 2017 when he was in his first spell as Blades manager.

We did, however, beat Northampton at Sixfields in October 2014.

 

[holdsteady]

#teamslikeoxford

If it took today, after the two previous premier league seasons they have had and how the last two seasons worth of championship promotion teams have done to realise that thanks to FFP it’s now, short of a Forest like mega millions gamble, near impossible to stay in the prem after promotion, then fair play, glad we helped the blinkers come off.

 

[RgYellows]

Newcastle are in for Trafford, apparently. I could see Burnley coming in for Cumming. I think he'll be on the Leeds radar as well, as they've finally realised Meslier isn't good enough. A bid of £3M+ will be very difficult to turn down. I think he's been brilliant all season . Fantastic handling and positioning. I thought Whitehead was the best (permanent) keeper we have ever had, but Cumming is a clear notch above.

Cumming is too important for our continued survival in this league to sell for £3m IMO

 

[Northstandboy]

Just went onto the Sheffield United forum to see what they thought of it. Seemingly it was down to our substandard pitch.....

I heard whispers of the heads being too long and pitch being shorter.

 

[derek]

Interesting that defeats attract twice as many posts on the thread. We obviously like a good moan!

Twice is being magnanimous, I'd have said three or even four times!

Football, eh?!

 

[Mr Perfect]

I live many hours journey from Oxford and don't get to as many home games as I'd like to, but must say the Sheffield victory was the best victory I've ever witnessed at the Kassam. The performance and atmosphere was superb, and I didn't really expect too much from a game against the league leaders. Top marks to the team, and Cumming was brilliant again when required and well protected by the defence. The whole team put in a shift and I thought Dembele as well as a scoring the goal, run his heart out. Brannigan although carrying an injury was also great to mention a few .....

 

[Bicester Yellow]

Absolutely brilliant performance yesterday, all that the fans need sometimes if for the players to give them something to get behind, every player on the pitch yesterday gave 110% & it showed.

I have been critical this season but you have to give credit where it’s due when we grind out a result & get the job done.

Win & a draw & we should be safe, I’ll be £100 poorer but I’d take that any day of the week to see us stay up.

COYY

 

[duckyellow]

What a day, what a collective performance from the defence...no everyone to be fair.

Cumming almost nailed on now for Supporters player of the season, closely follwed by Brown.

And the fans...without doubt the best atmosphere all season by a mile..those last 10 minutes of non stop chanting to get the team over the line, I had a lump in my throat. AMAZING!

Now for Wednesday, same set up, same intensity please GR. Win and we can breathe a little easier.

 

[Peterdev]

Just went onto the Sheffield United forum to see what they thought of it. Seemingly it was down to our substandard pitch.....

Didn’t they look at it fifteen times and it was a still a substandard pitch?

 

[Village-Yellow]

So lovely to wake up on a Sunday morning with the sweet memory of victory and a fantastic day at the Kasstad.

Yesterday felt very special.

 

[Peterdev]

#teamslikeoxford

Leeds were saying if you can’t beat a team like Luton. I don’t know why they have such an arrogant attitude

 

[Matty Greens Left Boot]

Twice is being magnanimous, I'd have said three or even four times!

Football, eh?!

To be fair it's more that home matches don't get as many posts as away matches because the posters are there. And away from home we haven't been winning.

 

[dickwalton1964]

That was the first time we have beaten a Chris Wilder team in OX4 since August 2006 when his Halifax team were beaten 2-0.

We never triumphed against his Northampton teams here and Sheffield Utd won here in 2017 when he was in his first spell as Blades manager.

We did, however, beat Northampton at Sixfields in October 2014.

I’m not a massive fan of Wilder but fair play to him, the post match interviews I’ve seen have been very honest and he’s given us the credit we deserve. In fairness, now is not the time of the season for any manager, involved in a promotion or relegation scrap, to lose the plot but he could have easily been less magnanimous in defeat.

 

[holdsteady]

To be fair it's more that home matches don't get as many posts as away matches because the posters are there. And away from home we haven't been winning.

It’s that and a certain few posters spam the board with the same repeated negative posts when we lose as well, however happy you are after a win it’s hard to write 15 posts saying the same thing.

 

[Peterdev]

I sometimes wonder if he will come back here another day to take us to the next level

 

[dickwalton1964]

Slightly off topic but am I right in saying the only really late - 85 minutes plus - meaningful goal we’ve conceded this season was away at Coventry ? We’ve lost plenty of leads earlier in games but I can’t recall any other really late costly goals. If so, that’s pretty impressive how we’ve seen out a lot of games where we have picked up points. We’ve been pretty good at that for the few seasons now. Also worth pointing out I suppose that we haven’t won too many - if any - points at the same juncture in games either !

 

[Eric Blair]

I have never heard the SSU so vocal before.

Almost spine tingling.

The subs really worked out today . Matos got a grip immediately he came on and the one legged Bradshaw kept the ball upfront very well.

Our tactics were tip top. Blades are lethal in transition yet we were never short handed at the back. We started and finished strongly.

MOM Brown. He is an incredible defender.

Championship is going to be our playground for years if we all step up like we did today. Sensational.

Hard agree on all the above. On the subs, he wasn’t on for long but thought Bradshaw played some decent touches. Most importantly he was calm and didn’t just belt the ball up the field at a time when nerves were shredded.

 

[The Mighty Aldo]

It’s about time some of our players realised we are in a relegation scrap.
Have to say that the keeper and back four or five plus Brannagan, Matos and Vaulks are doing this and straining every muscle to keep us in games.
But it’s time for the rest to show more commitment, don’t give up on balls, get back and help the defence, close down with more intensity and for Gods sake when a golden opportunity comes along take it

I got what I asked for
Thanks to all involved and of course the crowd did their part.
More of the same on Wednesday please

 

[Eric Blair]

Hard agree on all the above. On the subs, he wasn’t on for long but thought Bradshaw played some decent touches. Most importantly he was calm and didn’t just belt the ball up the field at a time when nerves were shredded.

Sorry. Just read back through the thread and see that loads of people have made this point already.