Oxford United's impressive pre-season continued with a confidence-boosting 1-0 win over Championship side Swansea City at the Kassam Stadium this evening.
Marcus Browne's early goal was enough to extend United's friendly record to P4 W3 D1, but it was the manner of the win and a performance that clearly showed what United will be about this season that should give the greatest encouragement.
It was a fine team effort and all of the new boys made their mark.
First it was James Beadle, yet to be beaten in United colours, who caught the eye, putting himself about with a couple of confident bits of early handling to stop half chances becoming full ones. Then Ruben Rodrigues got into his stride and with his first foray forward fed Browne, whose low shot slipped first through the gloves and then the knees of keeper Andy Fisher to roll almost apologetically into the net after just six minutes.
Whether the ball ever actually got as far as the back of the net is a good question, but Browne could have made it two when he drove past a static Swans back line but blazed a second chance well over after 20 minutes.
Swansea-born striker Mark Harris then forced Fisher into a block at his near post, and with Jordan Thorniley his usual calming influence at the back and Josh McEachran unflappable in midfield, it wasn't just the new kit that looked bright.
Unchanged for the second 45 minutes, United continued to shine, although they were grateful that Beadle reached a skidding effort from Joel Piroe on 52 that was heading for the bottom right corner of the net. The coveted Pirloe was more involved after the break as the Swans came at the U's with more menace, but Liam Manning and his coaching team have worked just as hard on defensive shape as attack and they looked a very tough side to break down, even if Pirloe should have scored with a free header that he planted well wide on 82 minutes.
Planned changes at the hour mark gave another new boy, Fin Stevens, a first taste of his new surroundings and he looked at home straight away but everyone played their part, with Elliott Moore outstanding as skipper and Sam Long just as impressive.
Early days, but the 3,000 fans who came along to see it went home happy.
The other half of the squad are in action in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Bristol City tomorrow and then there is one last chance to refine things when we welcome QPR to the Kassam Stadium next Saturday.
Result unimportant. Performance impressive. A good night's work all round.
UNITED
Beadle, Long, Moore, Thorniley, Brown, McEachran (Smyth 63), Brannagan, Goodrham (Wildschut 77), Rodrigues (Trialist 77), Browne (O'Donkor 63), Harris (Stevens 63)
Att: 3,206
Away: 615
Report by Chris Williams, pictures Steve Daniels, Steve Edmunds and Darrell Fisher