Oxford United 0 Southend United 2 (Hall 19, Mohsni 31) (From The Oxford Times)
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Oxford United 0 Southend United 2 (Hall 19, Mohsni 31)
4:56pm Saturday 28th April 2012 in Sport
OXFORD United were unable to take advantage of rivals dropping points elsewhere as they crashed to defeat at home to Southend United.
Chris Wilder’s side retain a slim chance of claiming a play-off place in the final game of the season next weekend, but a poor first half display prevented them from strengthening their case.
An error from debutant goalkeeper Connor Ripley allowed Ryan Hall’s free-kick to open the scoring and the Shrimpers quickly doubled their lead through Bilel Mohsni.
The U’s were on top for much of the second half but could not find a way back into the game as their winless run was extended to six games.
The United starting line-up showed four changes from the 1-1 draw at Plymouth Argyle a week earlier.
Ripley made his debut in goal after signing from Middlesbrough as an emergency loan following an injury to Wayne Brown in training.
Damian Batt, Simon Heslop and Jon-Paul Pittman also started, as Peter Leven, Adam Chapman and Cristian Montano made way.
The U’s had made a habit of conceding early goals, but they looked the more likely to score in a bright opening.
Dean Morgan saw a shot saved by Southend goalkeeper Cameron Belford’s outstretched leg on six minutes, with Asa Hall firing the rebound over.
Morgan and Pittman combined to set up a chance for Heslop with the next attack, but a deflection took the sting out of the midfielder’s shot.
Both United centre backs, Jake Wright and Michael Duberry, were booked within 60 seconds of each other.
The latter gave Southend a free-kick in a central position 25 yards out. Hall’s 19th-minute effort had power but was straight at Ripley, who somehow let the ball past his hands and into the net.
The error from the teenager was a body blow to the hosts, who lost their fluency in possession and became increasingly direct, with little success.
The task facing the hosts grew even more daunting on 31 minutes, when the Shrimpers doubled their lead.
A looping cross from the left should have been dealt with, but Mohsni leapt highest to expertly glance a header into the far corner.
Ripley was beaten for a third time six minutes before the break, when Neil Harris chipped the ball past the goalkeeper, but Duberry raced back to clear off the line.
United finished the half on top, with Whing drawing a save from Belford and Morgan heading over, but the 2-0 scoreline prompted some boos from the home fans at half-time.
Chapman was brought on at the interval and the midfielder had the first clear chance of the second half, on 56 minutes.
Scott Rendell crossed for Pittman to lay-off, but the substitute could not readjust his feet and shot harmlessly over.
With half an hour to play Tom Craddock was brought on for his first appearance since January.
The impressive Pittman came close to pulling a goal back midway through the second half. Running on to Chapman’s long throw the striker attempted to slot past Belford, who blocked.
Montano was introduced as the final throw of the dice with 15 minutes left.
The West Ham loanee quickly made an impact, jinking into the box before being tripped, but to the U’s amazement the referee gave a goal kick.
The setback proved the final straw for many home fans, who began to file out.
On the pitch United could not exert any late pressure to set up a grandstand finish as Southend held on for victory.
Attendance: 9,356 (1,106 visitors) Oxford Utd: Ripley, Batt, Duberry, Wright, Davis, Heslop (Chapman 46), Whing (Montano 76), Hall, Pittman, Rendell, Morgan (Craddock 58) Substitutes: Crocombe, Capaldi.
Comments(62)
Phian
says...
5:17pm Sat 28 Apr 12
sagadude
says...
5:20pm Sat 28 Apr 12
stfc = 2nd and promoted
Crawley stutter.
Come on Crewe.
Revenge is sweet A420 rivals :-)
sagadude
says...
5:20pm Sat 28 Apr 12
stfc = 2nd and promoted
Crawley stutter.
Come on Crewe.
Revenge is sweet A420 rivals :-)
New Manor rename
says...
5:29pm Sat 28 Apr 12
sagadude wrote:What revenge? Have we played you again without me noticing?
stfc = champions 5-0
stfc = 2nd and promoted
Crawley stutter.
Come on Crewe.
Revenge is sweet A420 rivals :-)
EastleazeRed
says...
5:38pm Sat 28 Apr 12
Ginger-nutz
says...
5:56pm Sat 28 Apr 12
.
Town are crowned champions, and you lot have well and truly blown it :)...
.
Done over by Luggy, an ex Town manager :)...
.
Congrats on your 2 wins over us this season, cos it's something you can tell the grand children about for many years to come :)
.
And maybe, just maybe..... You might play us again in 30 years or so :)...
.
Until then, I wish you all the best of luck for the future, and will sign off.
.
Adios....Cos the pleasure has been all ours :).....
Whitstablexile
says...
6:11pm Sat 28 Apr 12
The whole truth about the season is that you've gone up as champions despite bottling it twice against us and again at wembley. Seems like PDC just can't do it on the big day. Still, if the rumours are true, that won't be your problem much longer will it?
adlibber
says...
6:38pm Sat 28 Apr 12
Whitstablexile
says...
6:40pm Sat 28 Apr 12
oldun
says...
6:58pm Sat 28 Apr 12
Chish and Fips
says...
7:08pm Sat 28 Apr 12
oldun wrote:Don't know if I qualify as a sensible fan or not, as we have crossed swords in the past Oldun - but likewise to you and also the sensible fans of Oxford good luck - there's still a chance you lot can make the playoffs. Lady luck hasn't been too kind to you lot recently.
Many congratulations to Swindon and Shroosbury and to their many sensible fans.
Have a good week you lot.
learned
says...
7:42pm Sat 28 Apr 12
iskirk,Guy) !! And signed the hopeless Smalley...Please don't let him come back from Bradford !
Whitstablexile
says...
8:05pm Sat 28 Apr 12
Chish and Fips wrote:I reckon you qualify Chish. You used to come on here and give it large but recently you've shown a bit of respect and got it back as a result.
oldun wrote:Don't know if I qualify as a sensible fan or not, as we have crossed swords in the past Oldun - but likewise to you and also the sensible fans of Oxford good luck - there's still a chance you lot can make the playoffs. Lady luck hasn't been too kind to you lot recently.
Many congratulations to Swindon and Shroosbury and to their many sensible fans.
Have a good week you lot.
A Scroat
says...
8:25pm Sat 28 Apr 12
adlibber wrote:Spot on again adlibber. My mum is available to play in goal next week so I am expecting a call from Wilder. I'm pumping up the tyres on her chair now.
Wilder out he is clueless and we will go nowhere with him at the helm. His moment in the sun has come and gone. over 9000 fans amazing for a league two club and Wilder simply doesn't deserve that kind of support when he has overseen a disastrous run in, brought in some awful signings,let decent strikers go and has screwed up what was a comfortable play off place. Tactically inept and no plan b.
dave from witney
says...
8:28pm Sat 28 Apr 12
Ginger-nutz
says...
8:41pm Sat 28 Apr 12
Whitstablexile wrote:Err bottlers???.......
Ah the scum are back on the Oxford mail website giving it large. What a surprise.
The whole truth about the season is that you've gone up as champions despite bottling it twice against us and again at wembley. Seems like PDC just can't do it on the big day. Still, if the rumours are true, that won't be your problem much longer will it?
.
Just remind me again.....which team have just stuttered at the finish line with stage fright after being in the play off places all season long :)
.
Now that's what I call bottlers :)
.
With 12 more league wins and 24 more league points than our neighbours, surely STFC cannot be called bottlers??....
.
Take a good look at the league table my friend, cos it tells no lies....
.
19 league home wins for us... That's 2 more than you have managed to achieve in 45 games :)....
.
Bottlers..... You need to take a look at yourselves in the mirror.
.
Good luck for next season, cos you should hopefully make the play offs if you can turn a few more draws into wins.
yellowhoods
says...
8:59pm Sat 28 Apr 12
Malkym
says...
8:59pm Sat 28 Apr 12
So why not do the sensible thing next season ...take that little trip down the A420 and watch proper footballers.
BTW - OBU's been incredibly quiet lately -mmmm wonder why!!
Good luck for the rest of the season lol!!!
Goodbye Oxford we must leave you... moving on up ...moving on out!!!
Congrats on the massive number of posts.. oh hang on most of them are from the fans of....THE CHAMPIONS!!!!
Malkym
says...
9:07pm Sat 28 Apr 12
A Scroat wrote:Not as amazing as over 12,000 fans for THE CHAMPS -OUFC -forever in our shadow!!
adlibber wrote: Wilder out he is clueless and we will go nowhere with him at the helm. His moment in the sun has come and gone. over 9000 fans amazing for a league two club and Wilder simply doesn't deserve that kind of support when he has overseen a disastrous run in, brought in some awful signings,let decent strikers go and has screwed up what was a comfortable play off place. Tactically inept and no plan b.Spot on again adlibber. My mum is available to play in goal next week so I am expecting a call from Wilder. I'm pumping up the tyres on her chair now.
BigAlBiker
says...
10:16pm Sat 28 Apr 12
CW it's P45 time and thanks for your time.
Malkym
says...
12:08am Sun 29 Apr 12
Good to see one Yellow that realises their team's limitations!!
topboymw
says...
12:24am Sun 29 Apr 12
BigAlBiker wrote:100 % agree with you BigAl when we started using 433 we were over-run all the time and we either lost or at best drew. having a midfield three of leven,mclaren and heslop who aint the most athletic/fastest trio made it unable for them to use their passing abilities as they were being bypassed. it wasnt until whing took on the D Bulman role then it steadied abit. and whats with the loanies? what was wrong in trying Woodley?? Marsh or just keeping it as it was?... whats happened to Davis? he's a shadow of what he was at the start.
I have been banging on all season we are not good enough to pay 433 as we get outrun in midfield every time, CW is a tactical numpty, we have league 2 players who deserve to be in league 2, we can't play "fancy" football as we're not good enough, it's time to wise up, it has to be 442 or my favourite 4141 with the advanced midfield players supporting a target man, CW has done well no question, but if this club wants to progress then we need a new man at he helm who can spot young quick skilful players not give them away and bring in hopeless loans, Hall and Holmes were excellent but where are they now?
CW it's P45 time and thanks for your time.
p.s. had to feel sorry for ripley in goal today u could tell he was nervous and that first goal he was mortified sort of thing that can ruin a young player
Ab Boy
says...
12:58am Sun 29 Apr 12
Also said we would not make the play-off's with a non settled team full of loan players!!
It does make me laugh though that Swindon fans now come on here AFTER its all over, not like some decent fans who come on here win lose or draw!!!
You wonder why some Oxford fans give you so much stick but its not hard to see when you act like that!!
Of course we would swap losing twice to you lot but still going up but you cant change history!!!
So although we wont make it this year we have a LITTLE comfort in the fact it will be at least another season before you can try and beat us again because REMEMBER we get to keep you as we have now beaten you three times on the trot!!!!
Hey its not much but its something!!!!
IF and its a big IF, PDC stays, you get at least five/six new players then you could have a good season next year but its mid to bottom half and a boring season to look forward to!!!
yellowhoods
says...
8:39am Sun 29 Apr 12
oldun
says...
8:44am Sun 29 Apr 12
Ab Boy
says...
9:12am Sun 29 Apr 12
Look at the silly points we dropped at home and that tells you everything!!!
Stfcsteve
says...
9:31am Sun 29 Apr 12
yellowhoods
says...
9:42am Sun 29 Apr 12
jontyg
says...
9:57am Sun 29 Apr 12
I enjoy all the derby games and OUFC did well to beat us twice this season. Good on ya!!
Have to say though, that we have been lucky with some of our results, but that's football for you.
Hope to see you next season.
bigchet
says...
10:39am Sun 29 Apr 12
sprouts
says...
11:48am Sun 29 Apr 12
Yes, topboymw, agree. Thought it was very brave to accept this almost impossible mission at such short notice. Maybe a slip-up in the first goal, but otherwise well done. It's not his fault if our midfield and forwards are having such massive problems. Kudos, and hope this will carry him further in his career.
oxford bear
says...
12:04pm Sun 29 Apr 12
Joe1 wrote:the referee was disgusting it was like he was playing for southend. southend were just diving on the floor and the referee were giving out more free kicks to southend than hes had hot dinners! oxford fc should of had a penalty at one point. the referee was absoloutly diabolical, it was like southend had a 12 player. rippley could of easily saved the second goal but he was in the wrong place at the wrong time! the match was defiantly not a fair match!!! so "COME ON YOU YELLOWS!!!!!"
Where are our goals going to come from?
not a chance of winning today.cw we have to ask do you have the skills to manage at this level? It does not look as though he has. Our forwards are woeful.
Our defenders must feel like they are the last line of defence with a keeper like this lad behind them.
It will take a BIG miracle next
Week.
"Come on you yellows"
Simon84
says...
3:27pm Sun 29 Apr 12
Why did he loan a kid very short notice when I'm sure we have youth team keepers. What does it say to youth team players when they don't get a chance.
All the blame can't go on the keeper though the blame is all Wilders. He gets plaudits for doing well and he must get the flack for the team throwing away a good position in the league.
I will be shocked if he is sacked though.
bigchet
says...
3:55pm Sun 29 Apr 12
Megastar07
says...
4:32pm Sun 29 Apr 12
Surely there are enough experienced goalies around
Yet again a wrong decision
Chris thanks but here's the door
Stratton Red
says...
4:45pm Sun 29 Apr 12
*
As for the play-offs. I would usually wish you well as it's good to have a locally derby, but after the vile, disgusting, mindless ferral scum rats I witnessed at your ground non-league is too good for you.
*
Permanently in the Champions shadow!
yellowhoods
says...
5:06pm Sun 29 Apr 12
stfc777
says...
6:14pm Sun 29 Apr 12
jase1969
says...
6:59pm Sun 29 Apr 12
The Manager
says...
7:32pm Sun 29 Apr 12
The Manager
says...
7:47pm Sun 29 Apr 12
Ab Boy
says...
12:37am Mon 30 Apr 12
Well its THREE on the trot really!!
To some of the decent Swindon fans on here, good luck next season and hope you have a good un!!!
My bet is we will get drawn against you in one of the cup's next year!!!!
Bristol Rovers Fleetwood Bradford Oxford will be fighting it out next year for Champions
Malkym
says...
7:46am Mon 30 Apr 12
As to THREE on the trot well what a laugh - you can beat us 10 times on the trot for all I care as long as it always means we maintain our superiority over what is still essentially a southern league club in a 3 sided stadium that is almost as bad as the Manor.
Tarkus
says...
8:22am Mon 30 Apr 12
On Saturday we played a rookey on keeper with two games experience that we got in on loan, despite having our own rookey keeper on the bench, surely we either get an experience keeper in or back our own young keeper, so that, if worse comes to worse, he has experience for the next game. Ripley to be fair to him, did his best, caught out for first goal but he will learn & be better for the experience.
But what is more worrying is that Wilder kept Chapman on the bench giving us a midfield that lacked any guile, it's no coincidence that in the pole on here Chappers was only behind Dubes for player of the match.
He also held Montanio back until it was almost too late for him to give Oxford much needed pace, while, yet again, he played Morgan who's body language says it all, once when tackled in the box he shrugged his shoulders as Southend broke & ambled back! At least Rendell & Montanio, both loanees too, give 100%.
Even my stepson, who's been fiercely supportive of Wilder, said he's lost faith in him now!!
LeGod
says...
8:48am Mon 30 Apr 12
/sport/0/football/17
795329
watch the link above Oxford fans you will know what champions are about.
Enjoy L2 next season
FOREVER IN OUR SHADOW
PAOLO DI CANIO
Ab Boy
says...
8:52am Mon 30 Apr 12
Yes you went up but its with a bitter taste in your mouth and its tainted your glory!!!
LOL LOL LOL LOL
The Good Ship Hardy
says...
9:53am Mon 30 Apr 12
Chish and Fips wrote:I'd like to wish the sensible fans all the best too this coming Saturday. United beat the Town twice, Swindon over the rest of the season have been the best team in the league. That is why they are champions. I don't think Crewe will bottle it but fingers x for you all
oldun wrote:Don't know if I qualify as a sensible fan or not, as we have crossed swords in the past Oldun - but likewise to you and also the sensible fans of Oxford good luck - there's still a chance you lot can make the playoffs. Lady luck hasn't been too kind to you lot recently.
Many congratulations to Swindon and Shroosbury and to their many sensible fans.
Have a good week you lot.
Mick E
says...
10:17am Mon 30 Apr 12
Major Oxford
says...
10:45am Mon 30 Apr 12
LeGod
says...
11:15am Mon 30 Apr 12
So you have to walk before you can run and i think next season will be hard as well as now fat boy Evans is at Rotherham they will be competing at the top as will Rovers with McGee in charge and i have a feeling Plymouth will be competing as well as Chesterfield and also the teams in the top 7 who dont get promoted this season so another tough season next year for you lot.
We will be competing for a top 6 place next season - just watch this space and never underestimate Paolo Di Canio as all you Yellow fans did at the start of the season when we started badly.
There are players now that are lining up to come and play for us and want to play for Di Canio and i cant say that would ever happen with Wilder.
Malkym
says...
1:58pm Mon 30 Apr 12
Major Oxford wrote:Mick E said - My biggest regret of the season is that we didn't sell Beano to them.
I said it last week and I will say it again WILDER OUT!!!
Yep Mick and our biggest bonus of the season is that Paolo saw what a pr@t he was and told him to get on his bike after messing him around!!
Yep Major - Gene was no good in Willie Wonka was he - mind you he should have been OK managing a team of Oompah Loompas!!
Ab Boy
says...
7:23pm Mon 30 Apr 12
If we had only treated all other games like the Swindon games we would have won it!!!
At your place you say LUCKY, but then beat you with ten men the next time, THAT MAKES us the better team I would say!!
You bottled the big games, Oxford TWICE, WEMBLEY, ALDERSHOT (to win promotion) and 1 down at home to Shrewsbury who then should have had a cast iron pen to go two up!!!!
You just played better against the rubbish teams than we did!!!
Good job you had a few points lead at the time as you would have clearly bottled it if it would have been close!!
Mid table/relagation battle in Div 1 or pushing to win the league in Div 2???
Now thats a tricky one and when you are getting dicked most weeks will the crowds go back to 4 and 5 thousand again????
WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU WERE S**T
Malkym
says...
7:41pm Mon 30 Apr 12
mmm now let me see - who's in L1 and who's in L2 - oh yeah you lot!
CrAB boy -you're all IFs!!
You just played better against the rubbish teams -no we didnt we lost twice to you.
Now then run that by me again - beat your nearest rivals twice and stay do wn - not sure I'd want some of that!
jontyg
says...
8:27pm Mon 30 Apr 12
The Manager
says...
10:14pm Mon 30 Apr 12
Ab Boy
says...
12:45am Tue 1 May 12
Reeled me in??
Nobody in Swindon is that clever.
Dress it up whichever way you want, BUT it hurts so much that we did the double over you this season
OUCH!!!!!!!!
Chish and Fips
says...
7:27am Tue 1 May 12
Hope your match Sat goes well and perhaps then we can meet again in L1.
As an outsider, your club doesn't appear to splash the cash and would promotion with your finances be a big problem I wonder. Perhaps another season or two in L2 would be better in the long run.
Have a good week you lot.
Ab Boy
says...
8:55am Tue 1 May 12
I hope you can keep him and you also need to spend again.
As for us next season I think it will be even harder than this
Malkym
says...
1:58pm Tue 1 May 12
Ab Boy
says...
2:36pm Tue 1 May 12
Crewe are playing to well, we wont win at Port Vale so like 99% of us, its another season in Div 2!!!
Its like those people who thought that Coventry MIGHT get something at Southampton to help Westham, IT WAS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN FOR GODS SAKE!!!!
AlexF
says...
8:54pm Wed 2 May 12
Joe1 says...
5:07pm Sat 28 Apr 12
not a chance of winning today.cw we have to ask do you have the skills to manage at this level? It does not look as though he has. Our forwards are woeful.
Our defenders must feel like they are the last line of defence with a keeper like this lad behind them.
It will take a BIG miracle next
Week.
"Come on you yellows"