Oxford United suffered a 3-1 defeat against Sheffield United, marking their second consecutive loss under Matt Bloomfield.
The U’s started strong and even took an early lead, but the Blades equalized before halftime and scored two more goals in the second half.
Here are three key points from the match.
Oxford United Lose at Sheffield United
Makosso’s Debut
With new players joining the squad just before the transfer deadline, there was curiosity about their participation. Defender Christ Makosso made his debut, partnering with Michal Helik and Ciaron Brown in a three-man defense.
The on-loan Luton player performed well, showing good command and composure. Despite the three goals conceded, it was a promising start for the newcomer.
Early Goal and Team Organization
Once again, Oxford took the lead in an away game but couldn’t maintain it. The early goal seemed to boost their confidence, and they looked better for most of the first half. However, after the Blades equalized, they quickly gained momentum.
This was frustrating for the U’s, who initially looked well-organized. Once the equalizer came, their shape fell apart, highlighting the need to maintain focus when they are ahead if they want to stay up this season.
Defensive Issues From Set Pieces
Oxford’s defense needs improvement, especially at set pieces. They managed to clear an initial corner, but were caught off guard during the follow-up, leading to a goal for Sheffield.
For the other two goals, Ciaron Brown lost his footing, allowing a Sheffield player to get through, while substitute Siriki Dembele’s lost possession in midfield created a scoring opportunity for the hosts.