Latest news with #GaryRowett
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'We deserved something'
Oxford boss Gary Rowett felt his side could have taken a point from the 1-0 defeat to Portsmouth - and did not blame Cameron Brannagan for his error that led to the only Brannagan lost the ball in the build-up to Adrian Segecic's said: "It was one mistake and that was the main factor in the game."Other than that Portsmouth edged the game without creating a lot of moments, but one mistake gives them that little bit of impetus to hold on to, and they defended well."The last 20 minutes was exactly what you would hope - there was more of an edge to us and more quality, there were some great balls in the box and more shots."From that last 20 minutes I thought we deserved something from the game."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
United begin season with home defeat against Portsmouth
OXFORD United began the new season with a 1-0 defeat at home against Portsmouth in what was at times a feisty encounter. The only goal of the match came seven minutes before half-time, when Adrian Segecic, a summer signing from Sydney FC, capitalised on an earlier mistake from Cameron Brannagan. The headline team news for United was that summer signing Brian De Keersmaecker had suffered a training ground knock which is set to rule him out for the next couple of weeks. Gary Rowett made three changes to the side which won 3-0 against Malaga in the final game of pre-season, with De Keersmaecker one of those. Sam Long and Matt Phillips dropped to the bench, as Elliott Moore, Will Vaulks and Tottenham Hotspur loanee Will Lankshear came into the side. As for the visitors, former U's winger Josh Murphy was unavailable and not selected in the matchday squad. The first sight of goal came with 12 minutes on the clock, as Stan Mills intercepted a loose pass and bombed forward down the right-hand side. He fed Mark Harris, who aimed towards the near post from a tight angle, but the effort was saved low by Nicolas Schmid. At the other end, a moment of hesitation from Brodie Spencer allowed Callum Lang to get a pass through for Florian Bianchini, who shot straight at Jamie Cumming. Just after the midway point of the first half, Vaulks launched one of his trademark long throws into the penalty area, and following an almighty scramble inside the six-yard box, Schmid was able to claim the ball. A clever ball from Lankshear found Brannagan, who charged down the left channel and stung the gloves of Schmid at the near post. Seven minutes before the break, Pompey took the lead following a costly Brannagan mistake. The midfielder played a sloppy back pass which allowed Colby Bishop to get in front of Michal Helik and go through on goal. Cumming made a superb save to deny Bishop, however the loose ball landed nicely at the feet of Segecic, who opened the scoring with a neat first-time finish. Two minutes before half-time, United were aggrieved that a penalty wasn't awarded when Mills was nudged in the back, however referee Dean Whitestone was unmoved. The last action of the first half saw Segecic unleash a wicked 25-yard strike with his left foot, however Cumming was equal to it and made a strong save. Five minutes into the second period, a fizzing low ball from Mills tested Schmid at his near post, but the resulting corner came to nothing for the U's. The impressive Segecic drifted infield into the box and smashed a left-footed effort over the crossbar, as the Pompey debutant looked for his brace. United were forced into a change when captain Moore took a whack and was replaced by Hidde ter Avest. Spencer moved inside to centre half, with ter Avest lining up at right back. Further alterations saw Jack Currie and Siriki Dembele replace Greg Leigh and Harris respectively. The U's couldn't make it click though going forward, and rolled the dice for the last time with nine minutes left on the clock, as Louie Sibley and Tom Bradshaw replaced Vaulks and Lankshear. As the clash went into the 90th minute, Currie forced Schmid into an excellent save with a strike from the edge of the box, and then after eight minutes of stoppage time were signalled, Sibley blazed narrowly over with a left-footed half-volley. Oxford United (4-4-2): Cumming; Spencer, Moore (ter Avest 66), Helik, Leigh (Currie 69); Mills, Vaulks (Sibley 81), Brannagan, Goodrham (O'Donkor 87); M Harris (Dembele 69), Lankshear (Bradshaw 81). Unused subs: Ingram, Long, Phillips. Booked: Goodrham. Portsmouth (4-2-3-1): Schmid; Williams, Poole, Shaughnessy, Ogilvie; Swift (Swanson 86), Dozzell; Lang (Devlin 80), Segecic (Waddingham 90+3), Bianchini (Yang 66); Bishop. Unused subs: Killip, Matthews, Le Roux, Bowat, Kosznovszky. Booked: Swift, Ogilvie. Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire) Attendance: 11,492 (TBC visitors)
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Oxford United vs Portsmouth Championship prediction, odds and betting offer
Oxford United host Portsmouth with both sides eyeing a solid start after busy summer The Kassam Stadium hosts a finely poised encounter on the opening weekend of the new Championship season, with Oxford United welcoming Portsmouth. Both clubs finished side by side last year—Pompey just one point and one place above their hosts—highlighting how closely matched these sides are heading into another campaign. After securing safety with a 17th-place finish last term, Oxford United enter their second straight year in the second tier focused on further consolidation. Manager Gary Rowett has been proactive over the summer, bringing in five new signings to refresh his squad and add depth across the pitch. With expectations realistic, Rowett will be hoping his new recruits can help steer the club clear of relegation worries early on. Portsmouth also have their sights set on stability after finishing just above Oxford last season. John Mousinho's side will be wary of 'second season syndrome'—a common pitfall for recently promoted teams. The Pompey boss has responded by adding five players so far, including experienced midfielder John Swift on a free transfer from West Bromwich Albion. These additions are designed to inject quality and experience as they look to cement their status in the division. With both teams undergoing similar levels of squad turnover and entering the campaign with pragmatic ambitions, Saturday's fixture promises a closely contested affair. Supporters will be eager to see which of the new faces can make an immediate impact as Oxford and Pompey aim to kick off their seasons on a positive note. Oxford United vs Portsmouth Odds Oxford - 6/4 Draw - 21/10 Portsmouth - 7/4 18+ | Gamble responsibly | | Odds subject to change Oxford United vs Portsmouth Betting Tips Under 3.5 goals - 3/10 Josh Williams to be shown a card - 19/10 18+ | Gamble responsibly | | Odds subject to change Oxford United vs Portsmouth Betting Offer If you are on the lookout for the latest free bet offers, then look no further. Here, not only do we bring you numerous free bet offers, but all from the very best betting sites in the industry. Each bookie we recommend is fully licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission, so you know you are always betting on a safe and trustworthy site. Check out the Mirror Betting Hubs Free Bets offers here. Gamble responsibly Reach plc is committed to promoting safer gambling. All of our content and recommended bets are advised to those aged 18 or over. Odds are subject to change too. We strongly encourage our readers to only ever bet what they can afford to lose. For more information, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or visit
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Moore wants strong start from Oxford
Oxford United captain Elliott Moore believes it is important they start their season strongly against Portsmouth on Saturday because the Championship could be even tougher this time around. Moore insisted Gary Rowett's side are ready for the physical test that John Mousinho's Pompey always he feels that taking points from teams in a similar situation to them could be the key for the U's this season, given the number of big guns who have come up or dropped down to the Championship."There are bigger teams in there than last year and it is up to us to make sure we get the points on board," he said. "But we are prepared, have had a good pre-season and we know what we are capable of and what we need to do."With Leicester City, Ipswich and Southampton dropping from the Premier League and big spenders Birmingham City arriving with Wrexham from League One, Moore envisages a tougher test even than last season. Pompey at least provide familiar opposition for their opener, with the two sides having marched in lockstep for 11 of the previous 12 seasons from League Two in 2014 to the second tier last slipping to a 2-0 defeat in this fixture last season, Moore and his teammates are looking to inflict a first win eight attempts against Mousinho's side. "We need the squad depth [to compete] and that is now what we have got," said Moore. "I have been here in the past where we know who the starting XI is each week, but the squad had got a lot better."Manager Rowett insisted Oxford remain realistic about their place in the division in terms of resources, but maintained they would not lack for fight or organisation this season."We are still where we are in terms of budgets. We are a Championship-sized club and we still have to do it in a different sort of way – a slightly more sensible way than a lot of the Championship do," said Rowett."But we are certainly looking to get off to a good start. The emphasis is on us to make the running."
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Oxford may be undercooked against Portsmouth'
When Oxford United started their first season back in the Championship, nine of their starting XI had played for them in the League One play-off final. There was some trepidation as the U's took on a division they'd been out of for a quarter of a century. They may have surprised even themselves by how they eased to safety under Gary Rowett. When they kick off the new campaign this weekend, there's every chance at least eight of the starters will have proved themselves in the Championship with Oxford last season. Those who didn't – summer signings Brodie Spencer and Brian De Keersmaecker and maybe defender Jack Currie, who is back from a stellar loan at Leyton Orient, all look ready to go at this level. They have a good there is a feeling that United may be a little undercooked going into the opener against Portsmouth. A pre-season tour to Indonesia allowed them to make friends and gain influence there, but ate into the available time for the sort of intense fitness work that a Rowett summer usually entails. There have also been disruptive injuries which have impacted squad depth at a time when it should be at its arrived back in the county's consciousness last summer – they are THE story, although there is as much talk about the pending decision about a new stadium as there is about the new way for Oxford to succeed over the next nine months will be to somehow combine their underdog mentality of last year with a swagger that comes from knowing the Championship ropes. Can you have both? We are about to find out.A year ago Oxford were at the bottom of most people's predicted final table, but finished 17th. The Championship does look more competitive this year, but the average prediction I have seen this time around places the U's just above the relegation zone. Funnily enough, Oxford fans might be more comfortable if they had again been completely written off!
