Opinion: How Oxford’s Academy and Women Can Be a First Team Inspiration

Oxford United can use inspiration from their women and academy counterparts to approach tricky Christmas schedule.

The U’s travel to third-placed Sheffield Wednesday this Saturday (17/12) before table toppers Ipswich Town on Boxing Day in their first of three games within seven days.

The Yellows have been stubborn in all competitions of late to recover from a poor start to the season. Despite five draws in the seven games since their last loss, Karl Robinson’s men have enjoyed an undefeated run since October 22nd.

With a tricky run of games coming up, the men should look to their counterparts who pull on the yellow strip every week to continue stubborn form.

Oxford United’s U18 side secured a place in the FA Youth Cup third round last month. Wins over Torquay United and Horndean both by three goals to one, booked them a game with Exeter City to be played next Tuesday (20/12). Another win will mean a fourth round tie with Cardiff City in the new year.

While the League One side have enjoyed a good cup run of their own, looking to extend with a giant-killing of Arsenal in January’s third round tie, it is the Women’s side, searching for promotion who have taken the spoils representing the U’s in the 2023 season thus far.

Liam Gilbert’s women currently sit five points clear in the National League Southern Premier on the search for promotion to the second tier in the pyramid.

With 24 points and undefeated from their 10 games, the Yellows have taken their form into the FA Women’s cup with scorelines of 6-1, 13-0 and most recently 3-0 over league opposition, Plymouth Argyle, to book their place in the last 32 where they travel to high-flyers Bristol City.

With last week’s postponement for Robinson’s men due to frosty conditions, Oxford are searching for their first league win since their dismissing 4-0 display over Port Vale five weeks ago.

With a lack of competitive football of late, the U’s need to look for inspiration in their upcoming tricky period against two promotion chasing sides and the cup runs of their club counterparts should be used for motivation to keep the fans on a high as 2023 nears.

Published in Oxford Mail 15th Dec 2022.