In Focus once again takes its weekly walk around the facts and figures of our upcoming opponents, this week its Oxford United as we go head to head with the former King of the Dons Karl Robinson.
Well this is where we as fans exited stage right, a couple of days before we were due to play Oxford last season Boris pulled the plug on League football and many of us have not seen a ball kicked in anger since, excepting a few games on IFollow, and possibly a game at your local club. It all seems a bit surreal really, especially with rules that allow you to go and watch your local club with your mates, or watch the Ladies play at the Stadium but we are not allowed in under sterile conditions.
The last time we played Oxford was a few days before Christmas 2019 and was significant in the fact that it put an end to a 12 game winless streak for the Dons and ended an unbeaten run of 11 games for Oxford, the Dons winning 1-0 with Joe Mason (pictured above) scoring the goal.
OXFORD UTD – THE SEASON SO FAR – Oxford United are currently in 24th place with a record of PLAYED 5, WON 1, DRAWN 0, LOST 4, GF 5 & GA 10 and 3 POINTS.
FORM AT A GLANCE – LLWLL
LEAGUE RESULTS 2020/21
Peterborough 2 Oxford 0
Gillingham 3 Oxford 1
Accrington 1 Oxford 4
Oxford 0 Sunderland 2
Lincoln 2 Oxford 0
YEAR OF FORMATION – 1893 as Headington United.
NICKNAME – The U’s, the Yellows.
THE MANAGER – Love him or hate him it’s the return of one of MK’s favourite sons, the former “King of the Dons”, Karl “Robbo” Edward Robinson, born in Liverpool aged 40. As a striker, he played for several non-league teams although his youth career was at Everton and Blackpool, but injuries limited his career, making just 48 appearances scoring 5 goals.
As we know he undertook his first manager’s role at the MK Dons, overseeing 346 GAMES, with a record of WON 147, DRAWN 81, LOST 118, that’s a WIN RATIO of 42.50%.
He was relieved of his job on the 23rd of October 2016 after nearly six and a half years in charge, and at the time he was the 3rd longest serving manager in England. Just over a month later he took over at Charlton where he stayed for about 18 months before leaving by mutual consent to join Oxford United on the very same day. Initially signed on a two-year deal that has now been extended for another two years to take him to August 2022.
His record is to say the least impressive, a bang average manager sits around the 33%-win ratio mark, Robinson currently boasts a WIN RATIO of 41 % with a career managerial record of GAMES 550, WON 225, DRAWN 140, LOST 185.
FORMER MANAGERS – Since Oxford turned pro in 1949, they have had 38 managers, some of which have been caretaker managers, and in 1958 a committee of board members selected the team. Past incumbents include Ron Saunders, Jim Smith, Brian Talbot, Garry Waddock, Ian Atkins, Graham Rix, and Mark Wright.
It should be noted that since 2000, Oxford have had 22 different managers.
PLAYED FOR BOTH – On the conveyer belt tonight we have Keith Andrews, George Baldock, Jake Forster-Caskey, Lewis Guy, Rob “The Knee” Hall, Zeli Ismail, Peter Leven, Dean Morgan, Giorgio Rasulo and Jude Stirling.
MATCHDAY MASCOT – Olly the Ox along with his friend Olivia.
FAMOUS FANS – Timmy Mallet from children’s TV and Radiohead drummer Phil Selway.
SHOOTERS BOOTS – Matty Taylor with 2 goals.
CURRENT INTERNET MATCH ODDS – Oxford 7/4 Draw 13/5 MK Dons 13/8
LAST TIME ROUND – Saturday 14th December 2019 – MK Dons 1 Oxford 0
Team – Nicholls, Brittain, Poole, Walsh, Lewington, Houghton, McGrandles (Kasumu), Gilbey, Boateng (Reeves), Mason, Agard (Bowery).
Unused Subs – Healey, Dickenson, Moore, Sorinola.
Goals – Mason 59’
Referee – Trevor Kettle (8 Yellows)
Attendance – 10.031
HEAD 2 HEAD
2019/20 – Oxford v MK Dons – (Postponed – Covid)
2019/20 – MK Dons 1 Oxford 0 – Mason
2017/18 – Oxford 3 MK Dons 1 – (Gilbey)
2017/18 – Oxford 3 MK Dons 4 (Checka) – (Thomas- Asante, Ariyibi 2, Seager)
2017/18 – MK Dons 1 Oxford 1 – (Brittain)
2016/17 – Oxford 1 MK Dons 0
2016/17 – MK Dons 0 Oxford 0
