Oxford United trounce Burton Albion 4-1 in League One

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Oxford United vs Burton Albion Match Report

Oxford United were back on form as 4 goals in 12 crazy first half minutes won the points. After a disappointing midweek loss to Portsmouth, manager Karl Robinson saw the Baldock/Taylor come up trumps and continue their blossoming partnership.

Playing a 3-4-1-2, with a back three of Brown, Long and McNally, wingbacks in Williams and Sykes, Brannagan and Kane in the middle, with Whyte playing behind the front two.

Prior to the game, across the English football leagues Liverpool had scored 70, Manchester City 64 with Oxford United on 67. With the Premier league sides not n action, the U’s became the top league scorers with this result. And it’s not a surprise when your wingback has a number 10 shirt.

The U’s were a team possessed in the first half, and made the breakthrough in the 7th minute after Brannagan gave a short throw into Taylor, who returned in, for the midfielder to lay back for Herbie Kane to float a lovely ball in. Sam Baldock deftly cushioned a header in despite being heavily numbered in the box.

The Yellows were commanding as they repeatedly tore through Burton, and a scintillating move saw Williams drive parried and Sykes unable to get on the end of the rebound.

And Baldock was unlucky to see a second disallowed after Taylor blocked the keepers sight to interfere with play.

The second goal did come though, and it was a stunning strike from Northern Ireland international Gavin Whyte. Again the forward duo were instrumental at driving forward and Williams saw his effort blocked only to watch Brannagan roll the ball out to Whyte to smash a peach first time from distance for his first goal of the season.

Baldock got his deserved second when McNally’s marauding run covered half the pitch and he found Sykes in plenty of space, the wing-back played the ball from the right for the striker to stroke it through the defences limbs and into the bottom left hand corner. It was a lovely finish to a fluid move.

Oxford were not finished, and on the stroke of half-time Matty Taylor got his 20th of the season, the first U’s player since Kemar Roofe to achieve the feat. And it was another beauty, with Brannagan finding Whyte who chipped a ball towards the back stick for incoming Taylor to volley in to the bottom corner.

There wasn’t long left on the clock, so the Yellows were playing the time down when the Brewers got back into it, and with so many men forward it was expected to get caught at back. Despite that Sam Long did well to hold then block a shot until the masses came back to support. Branngan managed to get his head on a low cross but the ball fell kindly for Guédioura who belted in from distance.

Champagne football as 4-1 up at the break and the top scorers across the leagues. Not long after the restart Sam Baldock limped off to give the fans some concern, and despite Winnall’s efforts the U’s didn’t look like adding to the tally but the game was won.

There was better news as Sheffield Wednesday in the chasing pack lost and Sunderland could only draw. More importantly is a weeks rest before the trip to Shrewsbury next weekend.

Oxford eyes will be on Sunderland’s game in hand on Tuesday, and Plymouth who play and have 3 games to catch up on and are 6 points behind.

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Oxford United Fixtures and Results 21/22