Home Match Day Thread 28/11/2025 - MDT: OUFC v Ipswich Town

[Northstandboy]

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

I saw this post about it the other day in a group i like, they were saying 3 down at halftime but i wasnt born yet so i cant say!
Sounds like a great game

Yeah, some game. Two headed assists from Rosie according to him and Jerome on commentary.

 

[TailsWeWin]

Correct it was a horrible goal to concede but thankfully it didn't stop us winning. Hopefully now we have finally conceded a goal from a corner from a player outside the penalty area we will learn from this and change how we set up as every corner we have had this season the whole 10 outfield players are in the area. Ciaron Brown wasn't marking anyone and all it needed was for him to step out the area before the corner was taken and that would of meant the Ipswich player didn't have a free shot!

One for the training ground next week to work on.

There were TEN Oxford players between Davis and Cumming when he received the ball. There was surely an element of luck that he found the gap to squeeze the ball through, good as the plan was.

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

I loved the intensity of our pressing last night, the lads showed great fitness and so much effort and fight and that's what I found most pleasing.

3 unbeaten and its clear our lads are up for the fight (if we don't now kick on towards midtable comfort of course!)

All in all, with the light show, fireworks, atmosphere and the three points it was a great evening that reminded me why I go to football.

 

[m]

Pp

Hasn’t been mentioned for a while, but well done the guy with the drum in the East Stand. Relentless!! The atmosphere is SO
much better despite some people’s earlier reservations. I thought the support was tremendous all the way through.

Yeah, happy to have been wrong about the drum here.

 

[m]

I mean we've deployed a mixed marking system from corners all season. You have the biggest players zonally marking across the six yard line (so Helik, Brown etc), then a bunch of blockers/man markers around the penalty spot. Idea in the 'danger zone' allows the bigger defenders to attack the ball, rather than be static or run with an attacker back towards the goal. Theory is our best aerial defenders by attacking the ball from a deeper position, you're always looking to be approaching the ball forcing it outwards rather than back towards your goal.

Issue was, by having that many players you always run the risk of leaving you short on the edge. And looked horrible last night unfortunately.

You have to give some credit for an excellently executed corner in fairness.

 

[uptheus]

Agree. One of Vaulks best games for us.

I actually thought he gave it away unnecessarily on a number of occasions, especially a player of his stature and experience. Don’t get me wrong, he didn’t have a bad game, but just felt those moments were important e.g. we needed to retain the ball, so found it frustrating that he gave the ball away so cheaply at times when easier/simple pass was on.

 

[uptheus]

Correct it was a horrible goal to concede but thankfully it didn't stop us winning. Hopefully now we have finally conceded a goal from a corner from a player outside the penalty area we will learn from this and change how we set up as every corner we have had this season the whole 10 outfield players are in the area. Ciaron Brown wasn't marking anyone and all it needed was for him to step out the area before the corner was taken and that would of meant the Ipswich player didn't have a free shot!

One for the training ground next week to work on.

They blocked our player from getting near the ball, so was very clever to enable their player the space to get on the end of the cross, but he still had to execute perfectly which he did.

 

[Essexyellows]

Got to love Placheta - rarely does the "simple" stuff, sometimes you wonder what he`s thinking then he does stuff like that.

Fantastic result, Harris breaks his hoodoo and we put in a fantastic team performance against another of the favourites.

We are going to be alright.

 

[uptheus]

It was a great/wonderful result, but I just feel we’re more capable.

I truly believe if we start with Lankshear up top with Prelec in behind him we will be a better team. I also feel if Placheta plays on the left and uses his one main attribute (pace), and is coached to knock the ball past the defender, beats him for pace and then delivers a ball into the box, he’ll be even a better player for us. Imagine him or Krastev giving the defender a torrid time, then changing them on the 60min mark e.g. taking one off with the other coming on! I would just love to see Mills on one side (right) with Placheta on the other taking on their respective defender and whipping balls into the box for Lankshear to get on the end of them and with Prelec picking up the loose pieces etc.

Anyway, great result last night, long may it continue.

 

[Foley]

You have to give some credit for an excellently executed corner in fairness.

I thought that it was a brilliantly worked corner and huge technique for this level.
Davis hit it in the volley through a relatively small gap.
Sometimes you have to give credit where it is deserved ( McKenna suggested Shemmy's goal was terrible!!)
I would be very surprised if we conceded like that again this season

 

[SamLongSlidingTackle]

I loved the intensity of our pressing last night, the lads showed great fitness and so much effort and fight and that's what I found most pleasing.

3 unbeaten and its clear our lads are up for the fight (if we don't now kick on towards midtable comfort of course!)

All in all, with the light show, fireworks, atmosphere and the three points it was a great evening that reminded me why I go to football.

View attachment 32147

Pretty sure my Dad did this at away to Merthyr Tydfil

 

[dickwalton1964]

I actually thought he gave it away unnecessarily on a number of occasions, especially a player of his stature and experience. Don’t get me wrong, he didn’t have a bad game, but just felt those moments were important e.g. we needed to retain the ball, so found it frustrating that he gave the ball away so cheaply at times when easier/simple pass was on.

I thought Vaulks had a great game. He made about 4 or 5 back passes to Cumming from around halfway in the last 10 minutes and while that costly back passes at Coventry last season still lingers it looks like he’s learned his lesson, they were all perfectly weighted !

 

[OX14]

There were TEN Oxford players between Davis and Cumming when he received the ball. There was surely an element of luck that he found the gap to squeeze the ball through, good as the plan was.

No one was out the area when the ball came in, it was a good finish but if someone marked him before the corner came in that goal doesn't happen like that.

 

[Osleroad]

The timing of Subs can be very frustrating for onlookers -though in several of last games we have had to allow for using one for injured players which makes it a bit stick or twist. No such worries last night.

 

[Swaby39]

5 points from the week is probably the least we needed but having got it (with some good fortune), Rowett deserves full credit. How big does that Krastev goal now look?

Those 3 games in 6 days is a big ask and very easy to lose them all. Yesterday was uber-satisfying as it felt like a proper Rowett win and the sort that kept us up last year. Almost more so than at Bristol City where we were unusually dominant and felt like a one-off, this one felt like we’d found our identity again. That’s how we’ll stay up.

We could obviously still be far better but if we can take that mentality through December, there’s the chance to pick up a lot of points ahead and enter January in a very good position.

 

[Stranger]

That's three absolutely superb goals from open play in our last three games. Love to see it

 

[Emilio]

I watched this game on my phone at the back of Brixton Academy having taken my stepdaughter to a gig, when Schemy's goal went in I was able to celebrate like a nob because no-one could hear me.

Love Schemy, Mark Harris and GR.!

Up the yellows!

I also watched it on my phone on the tram home, having been out for dinner with extended family. Tuned in just to see Shemmy's goal. Had to contain my celebration to not shout and scare other passengers, though the teenagers sat in front of me necking what was clearly vodka from a Sprite bottle were more than loud enough to mask my subdued cheer!

 

[Made-in-Jericho]

Thoroughly enjoyable evening out for my son and I. The 3 hour journey home we were both buzzing and listening to post-match radio from both Oxford and Ipswich via BBC Sounds. Worth a listen…
The noise. The light show. TV cameras well done all involved.
Could even have had a couple more goals for a 4-1 if TG and Romeny had snuck in. Great to see them return with decent performances (as well as the rest of the team and manager). That pass from BDK!
Hope we can rinse and repeat that performance although I think we tend to play a bit better against open, attacking, fluid teams as opposed to those that close up shop.
Have an enjoyable weekend everyone; great week in the end!

 

[Chris on a Bike]

Whilst we all celebrate can we pause for moment and spare a thought for that Ipswich player (don't know his name) who rolled back and forth at least 27 times when he fell over in the box? I fear he may never walk again. What did the Sky commentators make of it? Any slo-mo replays? Where do we send flowers?

 

[TigerDriver]

Will Vaulks spoke incredibly well on Sky Sports considering he'd just played 90+ minutes. A manager in-waiting quite clearly.

Didn’t see this, is there a replay/what did he say?

 

[Mad Dog]

Buzzing after last night, knowing we can relax today, having already got our win under our belts!

Last night's performance, just like the performances against Boro, Leicester, Coventry, Bristol City and Derby, are the types of performances that could get me well on board with Rowettball, solid and organised, but positive and aggressive with a clear objective to actually get a result from the game, not just try to avoid defeat.
Even the substitutions showed clear intent to go on and get the win.

Please god let us approach our remaining games like this, as we've proved again and again now that we can do it, against the best this league has to offer, we've proved we can compete, and we don't need to fear anyone.

That''s what's gonna keep us up this season, not playing with fear, and setting up to not lose, but standing toe to toe, being solid, organised and confident enough to get on the front foot and have a go, whilst defending like beasts!
Yes it might cost us at times, but overall we'll gain a lot more points than we will with the try not to lose approach.

It was a great atmosphere last night, and that's the kind of response from the crowd a positive approach to games will get you, it was a siege mentality in that 2nd half, which was just what was needed and got the result it deserved.

And I particularly liked Rowett's roaring celebration at the final whistle, which proves he does actually care, as although I have been one of his harshest critics, I've never been on board with the theory of some that he doesn't care and is trying to get the sack!

More performances like last night and the games I've mentioned above, and I think Rowett will start to win over a lot of the doubters, myself included.

The only negative about last nights win, is that I don't have an excuse for not being dragged around the bloody shops all afternoon today!

 

[Mateo Corbo's Tackle]

I don't even think Cumming.

The Ipswich lad was light-years ahead with his feet, and I think that's what they'd want.

I am very glad Cumming is our goalkeeper.

I would say BDK ahead of their Matusiwa, but no others. Walton is a hell of a shot stopper too.

 

[Yellowmike]

Also for the beautiful air shot from the Ipswich player in the first half

Whilst we all celebrate can we pause for moment and spare a thought for that Ipswich player (don't know his name) who rolled back and forth at least 27 times when he fell over in the box? I fear he may never walk again. What did the Sky commentators make of it? Any slo-mo replays? Where do we send floweror the beautiful

 

[Mateo Corbo's Tackle]

Whilst we all celebrate can we pause for moment and spare a thought for that Ipswich player (don't know his name) who rolled back and forth at least 27 times when he fell over in the box? I fear he may never walk again. What did the Sky commentators make of it? Any slo-mo replays? Where do we send flowers?

It was Nunez. I’m not sure of the correct address at Ipswich, but I’m sure if you send the flowers to hr@norwichcityfc.com, where he used to play, they’ll be happy to pass them on

 

[chuckbert]

The Ipswich forum gave a thread where you have to describe the game in 3 words. Quite funny. Mine would be:
About time Sparky

 

[Upthecowboys]

Absolutely loved last night..

Agree with most of the positive comments, a couple of different thoughts.

1) GR sewed the seed for last nights victory in the pre Middlesbrough chat. He spoke about returning to basics, focusing on being hard to beat etc. On the pitch in the last week he’s invoked the attitude that kept us up last year and that attitude has secured 5 points in a week. We need to keep this ‘Underdog, battling, no mistake, hard to beat’ mentality for the rest of the season. Boro and Ipswich struggled to create clear chances against us, Norwich had a couple but we have been very solid in the last 3 games. The last week has shown how we need to set up and the mentality needed to stay up.

2) What do you do with Placheta’s contract situation? He’s out of contract at the end of the season, do you offer him a years extension in January on similar terms? Or do you just wait until the end of the season? He is infuriatingly inconsistent but he’s on track for his most productive Championship season and is a genuine match winner. For me he is a squad player, but it will be interesting to see what happens with him.

3) That result puts us 8 points ahead of Norwich (we’ve played a game more). If they were to lose the next couple and we pick up a result then there could be a 11 point gap. That’s a gap that starts to become difficult to close. It was an extremely timely 3 points last night.

Finally I absolutely love Friday night football. Appreciate Fridays are more difficult for exiles / away fans but Friday games are a big thumbs up from me.

 

[SamLongSlidingTackle]

Whilst we all celebrate can we pause for moment and spare a thought for that Ipswich player (don't know his name) who rolled back and forth at least 27 times when he fell over in the box? I fear he may never walk again. What did the Sky commentators make of it? Any slo-mo replays? Where do we send flowers?

Thoughts and prayers.

 

[QR]

Didn’t see this, is there a replay/what did he say?

It was the on-pitch interview where he presented Shemmy with the MoTM award. I recorded it and watched it when I got home with the help of fast forwards and a bottle of Picpoul. Sorry, don't know if it's been clipped and posted anywhere. Anyone?

 

[werthersoriginal]

Did people spot that Ashley Young came on for them? At about 42. Apparently his son is also at the club.

 

[QR]

The Ipswich forum gave a thread where you have to describe the game in 3 words. Quite funny. Mine would be:
About time Sparky

Oxford boys school.