Oxford United

Image source, Rex Features

Many Oxford United fans were surprised when the news broke on Sunday afternoon that the club had parted ways with head coach Des Buckingham.

The Oxford-born U's fan, who began his coaching journey at the Kassam as a teenager, was relieved of his duties after 13 months at the helm following a home defeat by Sheffield Wednesday the previous afternoon.

EFL expert and U's fan George Elek and former Oxford United player Ben Purkiss joined BBC Radio Oxford sports editor Jerome Sale to talk through the news in an emergency edition of the station's podcast.

Click here to listen to a special edition of The Dub.

Jerome Sale
BBC Radio Oxford's Oxford United commentator

Image source, Rex Features

When a team has won only once in 15 games it might seem strange to talk about the outright shock that cascaded through Oxfordshire within moments of this sacking news breaking.

It is not about Des Buckingham being a local guy - or even the guy that took Oxford into the Championship for the first time in 25 years.

I did a phone-in and, of the 100 or so calls, text messages and social media comments after Oxford were beaten at home by Sheffield Wednesday, a grand total of one called for a change of manager.

Relegation always was, and remains, a possibility for a club that almost surprised itself by winning the League One play-offs following a late charge last season.

My initial thought is the fans have been happy being in the Championship – but the club clearly isn't.

Oxford United return to the Kassam on Saturday trying to halt their slide down the table as they host Sheffield Wednesday.

The Us have won just one of their past 14 league games and are just a point off the bottom, though 16 of their 18 points have come at home.

The Owls lost for the first time in five against Blackburn on Tuesday and could return to the top 10 with a win.

• Oxford United are unbeaten in their past six league games against Sheffield Wednesday (W3 D3), since a 3-0 defeat in April 1988.

• After winning three of their four away league games against Oxford United between 1980 and 1988 (L1), Sheffield Wednesday have since failed to win on any of their past three visits (D2 L1).

• After winning their opening three home league games of 2024-25, Oxford United have won just one of their past seven (D4 L2).

• No Championship side has won more away games since the start of October than Sheffield Wednesday (W4 D1 L1), while they've won more games on the road in their past five matches (4) than in their previous nine (3).

• Sheffield Wednesday have won nine away league games in 2024, last winning 10+ on the road in a year in the Championship back in 2006 (10 wins).

Image source, Rex Features

Head coach Des Buckingham says Oxford United can't feel sorry for themselves as their away day misery continued.

Wednesday's 2-0 defeat at fellow strugglers QPR means the Us have lost eight of their 10 away games in all competitions this season, drawing the other two, and haven't won a league game on the road since a 2-1 victory at Exeter in April.

Buckingham told BBC Radio Oxford: "We played some good football but lacked that cutting edge in the final third. There were some good moments, but there wasn't that crispness that we've seen in recent games.

"When their first goal goes in – especially when we've had good control of the game – it changes the complexity of the match and feels like you're hard done by. We conceded a very sloppy second goal and it's not the result we wanted."

Defeat saw Buckingham's side slip to 20th in the Championship, a place behind the Rs, and just two points separate the bottom five, but he remains positive as the Us prepare to host Sheffield Wednesday this weekend.

"We need to add to add that final third to the good build up play we have," he added. "We have come to a team who have picked up some good results. But we have a long way to go and we can't feel sorry for ourselves.

"We always pick the team that is the best fit for the game we have to play. We will always do that. Players have to play to a level, and we will do the same on Saturday and see what Sheffield Wednesday pose, and see what the best team is.

"This isn't the end of the world. We are disappointed, but we have a nice home game on Saturday to try and get three points."

The postponement of Oxford United's Championship match at Plymouth on Saturday might have frustrated a few people but the timing could not have been better for the U's Tyler Goodrham.

The game was called off on Friday ahead of Storm Darragh hitting the country which meant the forward could be at home with his partner Georgia and not have to rush back for the birth of his daughter, Matilda Joy who arrived on Saturday.

"Thankfully the game got postponed so I could go back and stay with her," the 21-year-old told BBC Radio Oxford's podcast 'The Dub'.

"Obviously I wanted to play the game and go for more points but some things are bigger than football and it was a relief to get home and check Georgia was alright."

Goodrham has returned to training and will be in the squad for Wednesday's Championship game at QPR.

"I want to train and get out there but it's then coming off and getting back to support Georgia.

"Matilda could potentially be at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday (when Oxford host Sheffield Wednesday) but we'll take it one step at a time."

Image source, PRESSBOX GRAPHICS

Two wins and two draws from their past four Championship matches has QPR fourth in the division's form table.

The Londoners have not gone five league games unbeaten since October 2022.

While QPR's trend is tracking upwards, Oxford's form across the past four Championship games is the second worst in the division, only behind Hull City.

• This is the first league meeting between QPR and Oxford United since March 1999, a match during which the London side ran out 1-0 winners.

• Oxford United have failed to win any of their past nine away league games against QPR (D3 L6) since a 2-1 victory back in December 1969.

• QPR are winless across their past 11 league games against newly-promoted sides (D3 L8) since a 2-1 victory over Wigan Athletic in October 2022.

• Oxford are unbeaten across their past four away league games against sides from London (W3 D1), their longest such run since March 2016 (six matches).

• Oxford have won just two of their past 13 away league games played in midweek (D4 L7 – Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), conceding five goals in total across their two such matches this season.

Image source, Getty Images

Oxford United winger Matt Phillips insists he can still be a valuable asset to his club in the Championship, after an injury-hit start to the season.

The 33-year-old joined the club from West Bromwich Albion in the summer, but has only made six league appearances so far, with just three as a starter.

Des Buckingham's side sit 17th in the Championship, one point and four places ahead of Saturday's opponents Plymouth Argyle.

"Credit to everyone, the medical team, sports science, the manager as well, they've been patient," Phillips told BBC Radio Oxford.

"It's maybe something that I've probably got to do better - understanding what my body needs a bit more - especially in terms of recovery."

Phillips may be in the latter years of his career, but his experience could prove crucial for the U's, as he hopes to make his mark in his 10th second-tier season.

"I still believe that I have got something to offer at this level," he added.

"I just want to get myself back to 100% sharpness, fitness, and give my best to the team."

Oxford United head coach Des Buckingham says it is important they do not look too far ahead in terms of the future of Kyle Edwards.

After signing a short-term deal in September, the forward is out of contract in January and has only been available for four Championship matches this season because of an ankle injury.

After Saturday's visit to Plymouth, which Edwards appears doubtful for, the U's travel to QPR before playing Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United, Cardiff and Argyle again, to round off 2024.

"He's back with the group but I don't know whether next weekend may be too soon for him," Buckingham told BBC Radio Oxford's podcast 'The Dub'.

"We know the player he is and it's making sure we keep him fit. He hasn't had a long spell of being back and showing people what he can do in a period of time but, in the snapshots we have seen of him in the 90 minutes we have seen what type of player and how good he is."

Edwards also only managed to play four games of Oxford's League One promotion winning campaign last year owing to a serious hamstring problem, but Buckingham has been keen to downplay whether this makes it an even bigger month for his future prospects.

"He will be very good and very impactful for us throughout December and that's the most important thing for us and him, without looking too far forward," Buckingham added.

Image source, Rex Features

Oxford United will be without Marselino Ferdinan for up to five weeks as he heads off to play for Indonesia in the ASEAN Championship.

The competition is for countries in South East Asia with Indonesia scheduled to play Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and the Philippines in the group stage.

"It's an age-group competition - the longest competition I've ever heard of but he won't re-join us until what we're expecting to be the end of December," Oxford head coach Des Buckingham told BBC Radio Oxford.

Marselino joined Oxford in August from Belgian side KMSK Deinze but is yet to make an appearance for the U's.

The 20-year-old scored both goals for Indonesia in a 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Saudi Arabia last month.

The ASEAN Championship is being staged across nine different countries, with 10 teams having qualified. The final will be played over two legs on 2 and 5 January 2025.

Image source, Rex Features

Oxford United forward Tyler Goodrham delivered the U's a bundle of joy with a late equaliser - on the same day his first child was due to arrive.

The 21-year-old's partner is pregnant and her due date was on Saturday, when Goodrham was netting an 85th-minute leveller in the 1-1 draw with Millwall.

The striker revealed that Oxford's coaching staff were monitoring his phone in the dugout, ready to send him off to the maternity ward if need be.

"I think [only] five per cent of babies are born on their due date but the coaching staff were going to tell me during the game," Goodrham told BBC Radio Oxford.

"But Georgia (his partner) is quite good at gauging it and knowing how her body feels so she'd have only actually called me off if the time was right and we had to go."

Goodrham's equaliser ended a three-match losing run for the U's, who have slipped to within three points of the Championship's relegation zone.

Oxford face back-to-back away games against fellow strugglers Plymouth and QPR in the next 10 days.

Image source, Getty Images

It is one of the most eagerly anticipated dates in the football calendar as Premier League and Championship clubs join the FA Cup action from round three.

The draw will take place on Monday, 2 December from 19:00 GMT and can be watched live on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

Image source, Rex Features

Oxford United boss Des Buckingham says they cannot get too downhearted by recent defeats by Watford, Middlesbrough and Sheffield United in the Championship.

The U's are two points clear of the relegation zone as they prepare to host Millwall on Saturday.

"We gave a good account of ourselves at Watford, but Middlesbrough and Sheffield United are two sides that are challenging to go up, while we're a side that is making sure we're trying to stay up and if we keep doing what we're doing then we will," Buckingham told BBC Radio Oxford.

Millwall are on an eight-game unbeaten run and saw their midweek match at Portsmouth postponed because of a power failure at Fratton Park.

"Millwall have been very effective with how they've played. They're probably about where they should be with the squad that they've got, they’re a very established club and they manage games extremely well," said Buckingham.

Oxford will be boosted by the return of Elliott Moore to the squad after he missed the defeat by Sheffield United through suspension.

"Elliott's been a big miss on and off the pitch, he leads extremely well and is a very big voice on the pitch and presence around the club so we welcome him back this weekend," added Buckingham.