Three Defeats Yet U's Still Optimistic

Since I last blogged, United have lost three matches on the trot. Should we start panicking? Are Oxford about to enter one of their trademark desperate downward spirals? No. Relax. Remain cheerful. All is still well at the Kassam.

While it is true that the U's have suffered three consecutive defeats, only one of these has come in the unpredictable League 2. Moreover, this loss was recorded at Roots Hall, home of table toppers, Southend United.

Judging from the match highlights, post-match reaction and BBC stats, the Yellows were mightly unlucky not to draw, or even win the contest. As Paul Sturrock, the Southend boss, admitted in his post-match interview: 'To be fair, a lot of people will walk away knowing that the better team today lost.' This does appear to be true. United amassed an impressive 15 shots on target, compared to the Shrimpers' six. However, Oxford's failure to capitalise on their dominance, particularly in the first half, was once again the catalyst for their downfall. One can only hope that this result does not prove crucial come crunch time in May.

Unfortunately, this result saw us slip below Swindon in the table as we dropped to seventh, still in a play-off place but by the skin of our teeth. What better way to avenge Saturday's defeat than by beating the same opponents in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy on Tuesday night?

Sadly, it seems that Southend are quickly our bogey club. After substitute keeper, Wayne Brown, was dismissed for handling the ball outside his area after only ten minutes, it was always going to be an uphill task for the home team. Given that manager Chris Wilder decides against naming a substitute goalkeeper, poor Asa Hall was forced to don the gloves. His first contribution was to pick the ball out of the net from the resulting set-piece. That is how the scoreline remained for the following eighty minutes. Indeed, the main action came ten minutes into the second half, when a mass brawl started on the half way line; Southend's Anthony Grant was the first to receive his marching orders and Tom Craddock, on his long-awaited return from injury, followed Grant down the tunnel shortly afterwards.

Our next encounter was in the FA Cup, in what was a glamour tie away at League 1 giants, Sheffield United. The fixture meant an emotional return to Bramall Lane for boy-hood Blades' fan and former player, Wilder and also for United's goalkeeping coaching, Alan Hodgkinson, who represented Sheffield United over 600 times.

Sadly, no shock was forthcoming as United fell to an early goal from former Manchester City striker, Ched Evans, before a further strike from the Welshman and one from Ryan Flynn helped seal Oxford's fate.

This does not necessarily mean that there will be no FA Cup fever within Oxfordshire this year. Oxford City drew away at Redbridge, which saw them into the hat for the 2nd round. A victory in the replay, would see them travel to Crawley Town, which, incidentally, is United's next League game.

Expect fireworks.