I Got a (Yellow) Fever

And the only prescription is more goals!

Oxford United vs. Plymouth Argyle – Oxford came back strong after their bad loss to a nine-man Gillingham this past Saturday. The Yellows looked very strong in two thirds of the game. In the first 30 minutes they looked good and the last 30 minutes they looked great. That middle half hour though, the 15 minutes on either side of halftime, not so great.

The match started out well though, like I said. On loan striker Robbie Hall, got the yellows ahead in the 15^th but that alone was really the first half highlight. In the first 30 minutes, Oxford United had most of the possession by a huge margin – roughly 62% to 38%. Shot wise they did fine in the whole half, with 7 total and 5 on goal, compared to Plymouth’s 2 total and 1 on goal. However, even though the shots were still coming the possession went downhill in those final 15 minutes of the half. At the break, Possession no longer favored the Yellows by a great margin, it was basically even.

The first 15 minutes of the second half was the worst portion of the middle third of the match. Oxford defender Michael Duberry committed a foul in the box in the 54^th, giving Plymouth a penalty. Plymouth converted a minute later and the match was now 1 – 1.

The wheels started turning though shortly thereafter. The possession was rising back in Oxford’s favor again. I caught it at the 60^th minute and it was 55% to 45%. At the 66^th minute, the shot totals were still way in Oxford’s favor as well – 11 total and 7 on goal, with Plymouth still only at 2 and 1 respectively. With those stats climbing back, I was hoping it was only a matter of time.

Robbie Hall again was the savior and scored his second in the 68^th, which brough the Yellows back on top by a goal. This then opened the flood gates. Constable scored in the 71^st, Peter Leven joined the goal party in the 77^th, and Constable matched Hall’s brace by completed his own in the third minute of stoppage time. Not only a 5-1 victory Oxford, but also done with great stats to boot. To continue with the possession and shots numbers, the possession total was remarkable at the end – 62% to Plymouth’s 38%. The shooting category was ridiculous, 16 total with 11 on goal for the Yellows and still only 2 total and 1 on goal for Plymouth. It was a very good day for Oxford’s offense, and barring that one hiccup, a good day for the defense too.

(As a side note on the defense and that one little hiccup, I really hope Michael Duberry bought keeper Clarke a drink at the pub for giving up that penalty and ruining Clarke’s shutout.)

Big picture, Oxford moved back up into the promotion zone taking the fifth spot. The Yellows kept hold of the lowest goals against total as well, with only that one goal against. They also increased their goal differential, which is looking more crucial in a tight race for promotion.