OXFORD United’s 2-0 victory over Port Vale showed good game management and the capacity to deflate a rival.
This season, the U’s have witnessed a number of teams treat them similarly, whether it’s by taking their time making substitutions or tending to injuries.
Although they are known as the “darker arts of the game,” United hasn’t engaged in them all that often this season in comparison to other teams.
To relieve pressure on themselves at the back, the U’s took their time on set pieces, especially free kicks in their own defensive third, against Vale, frustrating both their opponents and the home crowd.
Des Buckingham, the head coach of United, stated: “Every team we play is very different and does things differently.”
As with any team, you have an opportunity to take control if the momentum starts to shift in the opposition’s favour. The key is to ensure that we maintain control over what we can control.
“We have undoubtedly witnessed portions of that when necessary. We were able to slow it down as we did in specific sections of the second half and speed it up as needed.
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