The Oxford United Herald
Match17 Oct 2026
Gatlin O'Donkor settles it late for Oxford United
The 88th minute, half the ground already edging towards the exits, and Gatlin O'Donkor decided nobody was going anywhere. Sheffield United had no time left to answer.
Squad19 Oct 2026
The step up is real for Aidomo Emakhu
At 22 he is doing things this season that he could not do last season, and doing them every week. Form comes and goes; this has stayed long enough to be called something else.
Match17 Oct 2026
Oxford United see off Sheffield United
Three points for Oxford United, 2‑1 the final word against Sheffield United in a contest settled by the finer margins.
The terraces19 Oct 2026
The crowd has taken to Stanley Mills
At 23 he is being sung about by people twice his age, which is an affection a signing has to earn over years and a local kid gets for turning up. It is also the hardest thing in football to live up to.
Squad19 Oct 2026
Late improvement for Stephan Negru
At 24 the improving is meant to be over, and it is not: 3 points better than a year ago. It happens to the ones who take the boring parts seriously.
Player ratings19 Oct 2026
One of those days for Cameron Brannagan
There is a version of this player everybody suspected was in there, and on this evidence it is. 8.31, and no argument anywhere in the ground.
Squad19 Oct 2026
Words exchanged at Oxford United
Brian De Keersmaecker and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Squad19 Oct 2026
A row about effort at Oxford United
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Jack Currie was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
The dugout19 Oct 2026
The manager’s verdict
“I am not going to get carried away and I will not let them either. It was a good day. There will be harder ones.” David Barnes kept it short after the 2‑1 win, which is what managers do when they are happy.
In brief
- The dugout No hiding place for Greg Leigh
- Player ratings Jamie Donley could have had three
- Player ratings Half an hour was enough for Ole Romeny