Oxford United ended their pre-season programme with the perfect send-off this afternoon, romping to a superb 5-0 win over Championship side QPR at the Kassam Stadium.
Goals from Cameron Brannagan, Mark Harris, Marcus Browne, debutant Stanley Mills and Jordan Thorniley saw United win in fine style in front of a bumper home crowd who went home buzzing for the adventures they will share over the coming months.
As with the previous home game against Swansea, it was impossible to tell the Championship team from the League 1 side. United are very comfortable on the ball and very hard to break down when they don’t have it, and you can see partnerships evolving with each 90 minutes; Josh McEachran and Brannagan caught the eye and controlled the game in midfield, the Brown(e)-belt left flank of Ciaron and Marcus was rock solid, and the entire back line looked very assured.
There is creativity too in Goodrham and Rodrigues, but on this occasion they couldn’t prise apart a well-regimented Rangers defence in the first half hour, although the Hoops were hampered when defender Jimmy Dunne slipped and dislocated his shoulder after 20 minutes - our best wishes to him for a speedy recovery.
That may have proved the pivotal moment because from that moment on, United took complete control of the game. On 34 minutes Brannagan made the breakthrough, sliding the ball inside the right-hand post after a delightful flick from the inventive Harris inside the QPR box.
With the unflappable James Beadle largely untroubled (and going through pre-season unbeaten), United were full value for their lead and on 59 minutes they doubled their advantage when Harris finished off another excellent move, hammering past the horribly exposed Asmir Begovic after a neat reverse pass from Rodrigues.
On 66 Rodrigues was at it again, flicking an audacious ball over the Rangers back line for Browne, who raced clear, lobbed the ball over the stranded Begovic and nodded into the unguarded net to make it 3-0 with his third goal of the summer.
What could make the day complete? How about a debut goal from Mills, slotting the ball across Begovic with his first real involvement to make it 4-0 on 72 minutes. Ten minutes later and it was five as Thorniley got up to head a Brannagan corner home and cap a fine afternoon's work. There was still time for Gatlin O'Donkor to hammer a shot against the post, but that would merely have underlined United's utter dominance at that stage.
As stated after every game of pre-season, results are immaterial. But the way the U's won is the key: confident, structured and playing bright, attractive football where everyone knows their role. Five goals. A clean sheet. Over 4,000 fans for a pre-season friendly? Unheard of and another big step in the right direction.
A wonderful way to end a hugely encouraging summer. On to the serious stuff and a sold-out away end at Cambridge.
Can't wait.
UNITED
Beadle, Long (Stevens 46), Brown, Thorniley, Moore, McEachran (McGuane 67), Brannagan, Harris (O'Donkor 77), Browne (Mills 67), Goodrham. Rodrigues (Bodin 77)
Subs not used
Eastwood, Henry, Negru,
Att: 4,587
Away: 1,777
Report by Chris Williams, pictures Steve Daniels, Steve Edmunds, Darrell Fisher