Back on Track at Vale Park

Since I last spoke, Oxford United suffered a cruel last-minute winner away at Stockport County. This amazingly meant that the team propping up the entire football league had done the double over us. The play-offs were beginning to fade from view, the dream of the double promotion, it seemed, had become highly improbable. To make matters worse, we only had ourselves to blame. Our failure to take our chances in the last three matches, against a trio of sides we ought to have beaten looked to have dearly cost us.

Saturday's match away at Vale Park was now very simple. Lose and the play-off dream was over. Draw and the play-off dream was all but over. Win and we could dream again.

Port Vale 1-2 Oxford United. We're dreaming again.

Similarly to that Chesterfield away game, Oxford United hauled themselves back from a goal down to claim a victory of huge importance. This one might be our most important yet.

As we have seen many times before this season, Wilder was not afraid to ring the changes, making seven changes from the Stockport game. The gamble paid off, with re-instated Jack Midson scoring our equaliser following a split shot from a further fresh face in the form of Alfie Potter. Our winner came courtesy of a well-taken shot inside the six-yard box by Harry Worley for his first in Oxford United colours.

I cannot stress how massive these three points are. Not only does it put an end to our stuttering run, it also gives us the momentum we so desperately needed prior to three successive home matches.

This is where the season gets interesting. A win at home to Stevenage tomorow night and we're right back in the race.