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How Mark Harris and Oxford United are taking to the Championship with ease
Blogs

How Mark Harris and Oxford United are taking to the Championship with ease

03/09/24 10:28

How Mark Harris and Oxford United are taking to the Championship with ease

When Oxford United managed to gain Championship status for the first time in 25 years last season, despite being an outsider for promotion, many had them as one of the favourites to go straight back down. Having spent four years as low as the fifth tier, it has been a slow and steady climb back to where the U’s will feel they belong. With a manager who only has experience in academy football, Oceania and Asia and little money to work with, Oxford have been impressive so far in their opening four games currently sitting ninth in the table with six points and two wins from two at home. Here are three things that have stood out the most in their strong start to the campaign:

Harris’ Heroics

Only Erling Haaland has scored more English professional goals than Mark Harris in 2024. Sitting top of the EFL Championship scoring charts with four goals (one in each game). Harris has been irreplaceable in Oxford’s starting XI so far. After three uninspiring seasons of first team football at Cardiff (scoring nine goals in 85 league appearances) the Welsh senior international switched his homeland for Oxfordshire at the beginning of last season. And the move proved to be a correct move after he bagged 15 goals in League One last term.

Now functioning as the Yellows No.9 and leading forward, he has taken the league he previously failed in by storm. A versatile forward who enjoys running in behind and getting at defenders, Harris averages 1.76 shots on target per 90, meaning when he hits the target a goal is very likely to be the outcome. Finally, Harris has shown his flexibility when it comes to goalscoring, scoring once with his head and midriff and twice with his right foot, including THAT goal against Blackburn Rovers. If he keeps this form running then his goals will be a huge reason behind Oxford potentially staying up.

Smart Business

The step up from the third to the second tier is one that many clubs have struggled with in recent years, but equally one that can be easy to navigate. A huge part of avoiding relegation is the players you bring in. Reluctant to pay big fees, Oxford mainly signed players that were free, opting for both old and young signings as well as those with and without Championship experience. Some of the experienced names include Matt Phillips, a winger with over 100 Premier League appearances and over 200 Championship appearances who had been a large contributor at West Brom for eight seasons. Will Vaulks, another player with international experience and over 200 Championship appearances. And Przemysław Płacheta, the pacey Polish international with Premier League and Championship experience.

All three of those signings were free and were partnered with the additions of youngsters Ben Nelson and Dane Scarlett (both on loan from Premier League clubs Leicester and Spurs respectively) as well as Louie Sibley, nabbed off relegation rivals Derby County and of course former Bournemouth winger, Siriki Dembele. Yet with all these newcomers, Oxford’s starting XI for the season opener contained nine players who also started their final game of last season. Showing that the U’s are still keeping the core group that got them to where they are, a similar approach to Ipswich, who found the step up to the second tier more than comfortable.

Buckingham’s Style of Play

It almost seems a fairytale story for Desmond Buckingham, who never played football professionally but is an Oxford born lad who began his coaching career at Oxford United at just 18 years old. Now 39, Buckingham has left home and returned, most notably coaching Mumbai City where his side broke records in India for the most points, most wins, least defeats, most goals scored, most positive Goal Difference, most successful passes, and longest unbeaten streak since the Indian Super League began.

Tending to favour a 4-1-4-1 formation, Buckingham’s side has the ability to press effectively, forcing opponents into their defensive third and taking advantage of errors. Out of the newly promoted clubs, Oxford have the highest amount of passes completed per 90 (375) and the lowest amount of crosses per 90 (11.5) demonstrating that Buckingham’s team do not feel a need to push the ball out to the wing and ping crosses into the box but instead use smart and intricate passes to find their way to the goal. Perhaps their most important factor is the ability to adapt if required, as it means that the opposition will never know what to expect from the Yellows.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist
James McLeish

Writer

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