Ross Halls sat down with Ipswich Town supporters to break down the 2-1 loss to Oxford United, a result that ended the Tractor Boys’ six-match unbeaten run in the Championship. Fans reflected on a frustrating night in which Kieran McKenna’s side were unable to capitalise on their periods of control.
Oxford, meanwhile, produced a statement performance under the lights at Grenoble Road, taking the lead twice and showing resilience to hold on for all three points. Here are the key talking points from the match.
Mark Harris Breaks His Long Wait for a Goal
Mark Harris finally ended his lengthy goalless stretch, scoring his first goal in 33 games. The forward pounced on a loose pass, saw his first effort saved, but reacted sharply to bury the rebound. The goal lifted his confidence, and he went on to test the Ipswich goalkeeper twice more, including an audacious attempt from the halfway line.
Jamie Cumming Stands Tall
Oxford spent long spells defending deep, but Jamie Cumming’s heroics in goal kept them ahead. After Ipswich equalised early in the second half, the Oxford stopper made two vital saves in quick succession and later took a fierce effort straight to the face to deny a certain goal. His sharp reaction in the dying minutes preserved the victory, capping off an outstanding night for the former Chelsea keeper.
Impact From the Bench
Gary Rowett’s in-game decisions paid off, with his substitutes helping shift the momentum. Will Lankshear and Przemyslaw Placheta replaced Harris and Stan Mills with half an hour left, and both made an impact. Lankshear battled defenders and held up play effectively, while Placheta provided the decisive moment, racing onto Brian De Keersmaecker’s pass before cutting inside and driving in the winner.
Later changes also proved useful. Tyler Goodrham and Ole Romeny injected fresh energy, with both players going close as Oxford looked to extend their lead. Goodrham, in particular, forced a late save after winning the ball wide and driving inside.
The substitutions added attacking urgency at the perfect time, helping Oxford see out a hard-earned victory against one of the division’s promotion contenders.