Just like watching England

Oxford United v Bristol Rovers, Carling Cup, Round 1, Tue 10th Aug 2010

After winning the mascot race at Windsor racecourse on Saturday, Olly the Ox collected both a bottle of champagne and a round of applause from PRB on the pitch at half time last night. During his victory jig and lap of honour Olly showed more pace and heart than the entire back four of the visiting Bristol Rovers side.

Although the bookies had Oxford as 11/8 favourites going into last nights Carling Cup 1st Round match, most people associated with the club were expecting a reasonable test, despite Rovers 3-0 loss away at Peterborough at the weekend. What the Kassam wasn't expecting was a landslide*. League 1 Bristol Rovers brought along a defensive unit - including a debutant goalkeeper - who seemed completely terrified of, and unable to cope with, pace. Whether Oxford players were running directly at them or chasing the long ball over the top, every one of the Bristol defenders looked like frightened rabbits caught in headlights.

Very slow and immobile rabbits.

The 6-1 final score did not flatter: it could have been much worse for the Pirates had Simon Clist been wearing long studs and Matt Green a little more ruthless. It was one of those nights where every first half chance was taken and the opposition totally and utterly destroyed by a team riding a crest of a football tsunami - growing in confidence and adventure by the minute.

A die hard Bristol colleague told me this morning that "in 50 years of watching Rovers, last night ranks as one of, if not the worst, displays I have ever seen from a Rovers team". Make no mistake, this was no reserve Rovers team - this was their 1st XI. Without a doubt the Oxford players and fans were clearly more up for the game than their Bristol counterparts, but it still takes a great team performance to grasp the nettle and force victory. That Oxford were able to do this so emphatically, which such dynamism in midfield, strength at the back and murderous prowess upfront, speaks volumes for the squads potential this season.

It was a night to enjoy, savour and remember. It was a night to justify the Carling Cup competition - OUR Cup competition. It was a night to warm the cockles. It was, in all probably, just a freak result.

Who played well? You could make a case for any of the 10 outfield starters as being man of the match - Midson probably had his best game for the club, Batt was progressive down the flank and Wright and Worley were both strong at the back - but it was Heslop who stood out, putting in the best home debut seen at the club in a long time. Heslop's first goal was a turf-cutter screamer, his work-rate and commitment in the tackle was second to none, and his delivery immaculate. His last-gasp second goal was thoroughly deserved - he was frankly unlikely not to score a hattrick having seen an audicious and beautifully judged long-range chip brilliantly clawed away by the Rovers keeper.

And Worley at the back? His partnership with Wright can only get better, but based on his performance over 90 minutes last night, Wilder has signed another potential golden ticket. A massive physical presence, young, athletic, fleet-of-foot (he showed real pace at times), and importantly, good with the ball at his feet, he looks like the sort of player who could quickly develop into a new Matt Elliot.

What a fine way to spend a Tuesday evening!



* There was one punter, South Stand Lower Martin, who WAS expecting a landslide victory: he had Oxford to win 5-1 at 100/1. I don't believe that he was cheering Heslop's 92nd minute goal that loudly...

Shirt tales

Got my first in-the-flesh look at the new shirts at last nights Rovers game.

The home shirt isn't quite as bad as I'd expected, although it's hardly flattering on the average rotund fan. Quite a few times on the pitch I thought passes had been misdirected at the referee - the very dark blue means that from the side-rear, with long sleeves obscuring the numbers, the shirts almost look like a plain black referee shirt. I can't help but fear that at times this season - in the rain or gloom of a dark January afternoon - that these shirts won't help the players pick each other out on the park.

The away shirt - as modelled by a minority of fans milling round the ground - is much more attractive, but I still have an issue with the colour: I know it's not the first time we have had sky blue away shirts, but for some reason it just doesn't feel right. I love the all white away option: at least white shorts and white socks would have given the dressing room a bit more flexibility on brightening-up the all dark blue home kit with some mix & match style changes.

I felt a little cheap watching in my all yellow 09/10 Nike shirt, but as last seasons number was by far the best shirt we've had in a long time -- and it's a promotion-winning shirt too -- I'm loathed to give it up. I'm going to give it a few weeks and then probably look again at the new away shirt.

A chance as good as any

This time of the year is characterised by football forums and message boards filling up with fans telling their opponents how brilliant their clubs pre-season signings are, how their team will run riot over all others in the division, and inevitably, that their club will finish the league as champions.

Two weeks into the competitive matches and half of those forum posters will already have egg on their faces.

Bookmakers of course are rather more neutral and objective. Although bookmaker odds have to reflect the level of wagers already placed on teams by punters, odds are also determined in order to attract or dissuade prospective punts by offering value-for-money (or not) on a particular club.

League 2 is of great interest this season, in that the offered odds on the league favourites (Gillingham and Bradford at a generous 9/1) are frankly no different to those of over half the teams in the division. The rank outsider, Barnet, is offered at a tight 80/1.

Compare these odds with those on offer on the Premiership (Chelsea 6/4, Manchester Utd 5/2 and Blackpool 10,000/1), Championship (Middlesborough 6/1, Nottingham Forest 15/2, Scunthorpe 100/1), League 1 (Southampton 12/5, Sheffield Wed 9/2, Dagenham 100/1) and the BSP (Luton 7/4, Crawley 5/1, Eastbourne 150/1) and you have to conclude that the professionals have no idea who might win League 2 this season and that claiming promotion, or indeed sufering relegation, is a very real possibility for almost any of the clubs competing this year. Of all the leagues, League 2 is on paper the most competitive.

At 14/1, Oxford United are well placed by the bookies, who clearly believe that Chris Wilders men have both the talents, momentum and experience of the dog-fight to emulate ex-BSP teams Carlisle, Exeter and Dagenham in achieving a quick promotion up to League 1... but are one of many sides who could do it.

The players, management, non-playing staff and fanbase at OUFC know that we have a chance as good as any. We know from our time in the BSP that a good start is imperative, and for United it will mean transitioning our rich 'road to Wembley' form, of positive passing and pressing football, onto the pitches of Burton, Wycombe and Hereford.

4/1 for OUFC to get promoted up to League 1 looks an attractive proposition right now.

My face is clean. The eggs are waiting in the fridge.