Home Match Day Thread 15/02/2026 - MDT: FA Cup R4: Oxford United v Sunderland

[SteMerritt]

 

[Symp59]

Let's be honest Lanksher gives his all ,as probably Harris and Prelec but do any of those 3 keep us up ,

 

[ttg17]

• The shape was so much better. The long balla to Lankshear were bearing fruit because he was supported (and battled well too). Defensively very solid too I thought.
• Really promising start from Jeon. Thought he and Currie looked very dangerous down that left side first half. Faded though.
• Mills is quietly growing into a good championship winger before our eyes. Had their LB on toast today.
• I think one of the big reasons we’ve been so toothless in possession this season is because our central back three (GK/CBs) are poor on the call at this level. We struggle to build anything with the ball because they can’t pick a pass (unlike Nelson last year). Ingram’s kicking today I thought was genuinely something of a revelation, he was picking out players and helping us get out from the back. I do t think he’s done enough to displace Cumming as our number 1 going forward but it was noticeable how much of a different dimension it gave us.
• Sunderland pretty poor. Didn’t have a clear cut chance outside that ridiculous pen. I don’t think it really matters whether he got a touch on the ball or not - not all physical contact in the box is a foul, and their player was quite clearly looking for it. Ref ruined the game as a spectacle unfortunately. It’ll obviously sound like sour grapes but it’s difficult to see how our players were consistently penalised for Sunderland players going down under very little contact, while the likes of Lankshear were manhandled all afternoon with impunity.

Stuff to build on and the new boys continue to look like they’ve improved the team and squad. Just annoying that it yet again feels like we’ve been shortchanged by officiating.

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

Really enjoyed that as an occasion, we took a couple of lady guests

 

[Common Villager]

Better performance. I think that should be the blueprint for how we set up and play for the rest of the season regardless of opposition. The players clearly looked more comfortable and we were solid defensively without completely giving up on trying to score.

 

[MJB]

View attachment 33570

Swiss Yellow

 

[bazzer9461]

Lankashear was great today fought hard and worked his socks off.
Gid knows how the idiot linesman can give a could and not the ref who was closer.
Well done Will

 

[BicesterU]

Well there you go - season finished. See you in August, when we've hopefully broken ground at the triangle.

You're not going any more this season because we might get relegated?

 

[werthersoriginal]

You're not going any more this season because we might get relegated?

I’m not sure he goes in the first place

 

[EastSussexOx]

Great to see players playing their proper positions, definitely something to build on, thought the defensive balance looked good today, would prefer this to five at the back regardless of opposition. Ingram was also a difference maker with some accurate and dangerous goal kicks, so we retained territory rather than being backs to the wall most of the game, something to build on given we now have a decent number of physically strong forwards players, with likes of Prelec and MPH to come back in. Jin woo Jeon had a promising debut, good decision making and movement and looks physically strong enough for English football. Feeling a lot less depressed than after the Norwich game.

 

[BicesterU]

I'd also just like to be the first to say can we not have a collective hissy fit if we revert to 3 CBs when we play away at table-topping Middlesborough?

 

[Rach]

They’ve just shown it on TNT at half time and he doesn’t touch the ball so not sure why you’re making stuff up.

Terrible quality fragment of a screenshot, but he got the ball.

 

[Basham Wonderland]

I’m not sure he goes in the first place

I was there today muppet

 

[Rach]

Having seen them put to the sword on Tuesday I’m not surprised it was a bit better.
Can believe six home games and no
Goals scored in that time.
Onwards to Boro. Don’t know if we will get a penalty in the championship or whether we will get a win. Not looking likely.
Disappointed with a sub 10000 crowd. To be fair though I’d be surprised if we had over 8500 there on Tuesday as there were gaps everywhere

I thought it was a great crowd. All the negative Nancys stayed at home, and the atmosphere was a lot more positive as a result. There was even singing in the SSU (usually just me in our section), which is a bit of a novelty these days. I'm sure the positive atmosphere helps the team (otherwise why would they keep saying it does in interviews), and so I'm hoping the negative folks stay away for the rest of the season, even if that does mean sub-10k attendances.

 

[Manorlounger]

Losing to such a debateable penalty is annoying. Lankshear not getting anything from the ref is just poor officiating. (particularly the offside given by the assistant who needs re-training)
Thought Ingram was tidy and proficient. Good distribution, on the whole, certainly better than Cumming. Jin Woo looks like a real handful and shows promise. Good to have Currie back, he is very assured and with more experience will be an excellent player.
CamBran needs to calm down a bit. He gets away with much of his protesting courtesy of the capatains armband but, he's not endearing himself to any official. Vaulks showed us again that he has a mistake in his repetoire always waiting to pop out at the wrong moment.

Would have liked to see more committment from the team as a whole when breaking on the counter, it's just no good having so few bodies sprinting into offense.

However, the performance gives encouragement for the league and perhaps, a springboard for that great escape.

Best thing about today? Mrs L and self won the 50/50 draw £1074.00 squiddleys going into our holiday fund - just in time!! (And to pay my dentist bill to put my bridge of four teeth back in place after it fell out yesterday. Don't ask me to smile right now, it's not a pretty sight!)

 

[bazzer9461]

Terrible quality fragment of a screenshot, but he got the ball.

Thought Savages comment at half time will embarrass the ref when he was asked about the penalty “ it was a soft penalty “

 

[Rach]

One decent performance by Ingram & now everyone thinks he should start at Boro ahead of Cumming. It’s everywhere on X.

I give up. Massive levels between the both. Cumming is our number one & a quality goalkeeper.

You didn't go to MK Dons either then? Ingram has improved massively since last year.

 

[uptheus]

Let's be honest Lanksher gives his all ,as probably Harris and Prelec but do any of those 3 keep us up ,

Wouldn’t mind Lankshear on their last man with Prelec in behind him

 

[carefreeoufc]

Random thoughts:

That was one of Vaulks best performances for us. Communicated well and controlled the play when he needed to. Some nice deliveries into the box and cross field kicks. People complain that he goes backwards/slows the game. He always has, that’s why you have to decide who plays with BDK. BDK is an upgrade on Brannagan, they’re better off not playing together.

Makosso (bar the penalty) had a good game, as did most of the starting eleven.

Ingrams distribution is night and day compared to Cumming. He must have hit the man every time. They were pinpoint. Whether his shot stopping is to the same level as Cumming, I don’t know, but we gained something by having the ball hit the man.

Lankshear is a class act, I thought he did really well today. Ok, didn’t get a goal, but he moved away from aimless jockeying of players and held the ball up well, caused problems. He was unlucky not to get more from the game.

I thought the subs were largely ineffectual.

If we can retain some of our permanents and add Makosso, we’ve got an upgrade on this season already. Regardless of the division we might be in.

A joy to get too/from the blackbird today. Think it took 12 mins to get home from the car park there whilst also leaving on FT.

Really hope Bloomfield maintains that core and formation for the remainder of the season. We have something to build from.

 

[TailsWeWin]

I have confidence in Ingram - Cumming needs a rest

Some people dismissed Ingram far too early.

As they do with many new players.

 

[bazzer9461]

Losing to such a debateable penalty is annoying. Lankshear not getting anything from the ref is just poor officiating. (particularly the offside given by the assistant who needs re-training)
Thought Ingram was tidy and proficient. Good distribution, on the whole, certainly better than Cumming. Jin Woo looks like a real handful and shows promise. Good to have Currie back, he is very assured and with more experience will be an excellent player.
CamBran needs to calm down a bit. He gets away with much of his protesting courtesy of the capatains armband but, he's not endearing himself to any official. Vaulks showed us again that he has a mistake in his repetoire always waiting to pop out at the wrong moment.

Would have liked to see more committment from the team as a whole when breaking on the counter, it's just no good having so few bodies sprinting into offense.

However, the performance gives encouragement for the league and perhaps, a springboard for that great escape.

Best thing about today? Mrs L and self won the 50/50 draw £1074.00 squiddleys going into our holiday fund - just in time!! (And to pay my dentist bill to put my bridge of four teeth back in place after it fell out yesterday. Don't ask me to smile right now, it's not a pretty sight!)

Jammy sod, isn’t that the 2nd time you’ve won the 50/50

 

[90syeIlow]

Lankashear was great today fought hard and worked his socks off.
Gid knows how the idiot linesman can give a could and not the ref who was closer.
Well done Will

First match day thread where you haven’t said we need a striker, well done Bazzer.

 

[bazzer9461]

First match day thread where you haven’t said we need a striker, well done Bazzer.

But the question has to be asked no goals since Boxing Day. A classic example Tuesday evening against Norwich a player they bought for 3.25 million in January scores a hattrick on his debut that’s what we should be aiming for if only to complement Lankashear forget Harris

 

[uptheus]

I think what also helped us today was, they didn’t press high. When teams do that we tend to struggle!

 

[TailsWeWin]

But the question has to be asked no goals since Boxing Day. A classic example Tuesday evening against Norwich a player they bought for 3.25 million in January scores a hattrick on his debut that’s what we should be aiming for if only to complement Lankashear forget Harris

 

[TailsWeWin]

Don’t think it was his debut, Baz.
Or his first goal.

 

[Slade Yellow]

Thomas Kirk from Yorkshire is today’s referee:

Shame nobody didn’t beam the biased twerp up!

 

[BigAlan]

Well apart from non scoring I enjoyed the game, it helps when you play with players who know where there are and what they’re supposed to do, basics really. Right from the keeper to the first 11 were good, not sure about some of the subs but I guess they will do something one day. Glad Harris and Dembele are not playing.

 

[Manorlounger]

Jammy sod, isn’t that the 2nd time you’ve won the 50/50

Almost embarrassed to say 4th time! (But not really embarrassed)

 

[Slade Yellow]

Away fans in the area behind the executive boxes again.

And in south stand lower just beside home home bench

 

[Marked Ox]

Far better performance, crap Officials.

That the game is decided by that awful penalty decision does the match a disservice. And yet we can't get a penalty over 80+ games including 2 opponents taking Shemmy out at the same time. Just laughable.

Plenty of other poor decisions as well from the Ref. Awful Ref.

The Lino in front of the South Stand shouldn't have bothered turning up, decisions would have been better with nobody there whilst saving some cash. I've seen far better Club Linos' than him.

Ingram my man of the match.