So today I decided to travel to Oxford to visit my 50th of the 92 football league grounds. The home side, managed this season by Aaron Ramsey, ex of Arsenal and Juventus, came into the game on the back of an impressive 0-4 away win last weekend at Leicester City. Burton Albion too had made a decent start to the season and came into the game in fifth place, with manager Gary Bowyer hopeful this season could be the first in a while where the Brewers could threaten the top half of the league table.
The Kassam Stadium was opened in 2001, with a capacity of 12,500 in its three stands. I visited Oxford United’s previous ground, the Manor Ground, in the 1990s, and the Kassam certainly provides great views and facilities, even if the open space behind one of the goals leaves the sense of atmosphere and noise missing the presence of a “closing” fourth stand. There was a decent crowd of 9,448 in for today’s game.
– courtesy of club’s X account.
Oxford United have seen goals flow already this season from Mark Harris (3 goals) and Gatlin O’Donkor (3 goals). Burton Albion have also seen goals flow from the off this season and their top scorers have been Finn Delap (2 goals), with Jack Armer, George Evans and Kgagelo Chauke close behind with one each.
– Courtesy of club’s X account.
The game was tense throughout the first half with neither side really being able to find that crucial final pass. Button Albion created some decent chances on the counter attack, and Oxford United began to take control of the midfield. However at the break, the sides went in goalless.
The second half was very different, with Oxford United battering the Burton Albion defensive door. It took until the 76th minute when a fine finish from Siriki Dembele sent the home fans wild and put Oxford United 1-0 ahead.
There was still time in the final ten minutes, for clinical finishes by Louie Sibley and Gatlin O’Donkor to make it 3-0 and to seal all three points for Oxford United. At the final whistle it was the U’s who went up to fifth in the league, pushing Burton Albion down to eleventh.
– Courtesy of http://www.footballwebpages.co.uk
Full highlights courtesy of the Oxford United YouTube channel can be found by clicking the link below.
Oxford United 3 Burton Albion 0
Tea, Cake and Football - Grounds of the UK 