Oxford United striker Beano into double figures (From Oxford Mail)
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Oxford United striker Beano into double figures
9:00am Wednesday 15th February 2012 in Us News
James Constable drills home United's winner against Dagenham
James ‘Beano’ Constable admitted that his first goal since December had seemed like an eternity in coming.
Oxford United’s leading scorer reached double figures for the season with a fine strike with ten minutes remaining to give his side a 2-1 victory over Dagenham at the Kassam Stadium on Tuesday night.
It looked as though Chris Wilder’s men might have again failed to beat a struggling team on their home pitch when Mark Arber headed home with 18 minutes left to cancel out Oli Johnson’s first goal for United six minutes after half-time.
But substitute Mehdi Kerrouche, who is on loan at Oxford from Swindon, produced some great link-up play with Johnson to free Constable, and his strike at the near post proved the match-winner.
And Constable, whose last goal came in the 2-0 win at AFC Wimbledon on Boxing Day, could not hide his delight at getting off the mark for 2012.
“It’s been a while,” he said. “Far too long in fact.
“It’s been a difficult situation with not having a game for more than two weeks, but the three points was the biggest thing today.
“But it is really nice to get back on the scoresheet again and it was particularly pleasing to get the goal as the first shot I had went out for a throw-in and I think the linesman had to duck!
“Hopefully now I can go on a little run and get some more.”
Wilder added: “I have stood talking to you after about a dozen games this season saying we played really well, but when we have not won the game.
“But tonight the performance wasn’t great, but we got the three points, which was the most important thing.
“We had a lot of new faces playing and it will take time for them to bed in and find their feet, but there were some really promising signs.
“We know we need to win more matches, and that is a big result for us.”
Because of their injury problems, United fielded four new faces – Scott Rendell and Mark Wilson starting the game, with Kerrouche and Lee Holmes – who was only signed on loan from Southampton earlier in the day – both coming on as substitutes.
Comments(19)
New Manor rename
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9:51am Wed 15 Feb 12
Joe1
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10:14am Wed 15 Feb 12
Let's hope we take off from here on in.
"COME ON YOU YELLOWS"
dabombdiggy
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11:40am Wed 15 Feb 12
An STFC fan here keen to see you come up with us boys so we can have a few matches next season so as long as we finish 1st.... ;-)
CamView
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11:41am Wed 15 Feb 12
Early days yet for the new guys but they are what we need lets hope they settle in and expectations are not too high for the first few games they are involved in.
P.S. I thought the the ref handled the game very well.
dave from witney
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3:47pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Whitstablexile
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4:13pm Wed 15 Feb 12
4-3-3 is fine when youve got Xavi, Iniesta etc and world class full backs to provide support. However div2 standard is a bit different. We've got some good honest players who, whenever they play 4 across the midfield, create chances and limit the opposition. It's not the only reason we are off the pace but when you see the performances of some of his signings, along with the success of Midson and others after they've left, it makes me realise that Wilder's biggest flaw is not tactics.
Make no mistake, he's done ok for us, but hand on heart I don't think he's what we need now.
adlibber
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4:19pm Wed 15 Feb 12
mandate
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4:21pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Dagenham played as a team who were desperate for a point. Clearly their tactic was to pack the midfield to stop any chance of Oxford building up a decent attack. When we changed formation in the second half, we scored after only six minutes.
I think tactically Chris Wilder took a chance in the first half that did'nt work out. He had the good sense to change it and it paid off.
The new players all did well and we got the important 3 points. Very positive!.
I personally don't care about the teams above us? While they are all concentrating and fighting it out for automatic promotion, Oxford can steadily get in form for the play-offs.
The important thing for us is to forget about the teams above us. We need to concentrate on the final play off place. We need to put some distance us and the chasing pack of teams directly below us in the league.
DuberryandBeanofan
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4:40pm Wed 15 Feb 12
mandate wrote:Totally 100% agree, tough game against Bristol Rovers now on Saturday and with Batt coming back the team I think it will be is: Clarke, Batt, Wright, Duberry, Davis, Leven, Holmes, Wilson, Heslop, Beano, Rendell
Nag, nag, nag! Did it come as any surprise that the first half was awful? We have'nt played a competitive match in 2 weeks and many of the players were making their debut.
Dagenham played as a team who were desperate for a point. Clearly their tactic was to pack the midfield to stop any chance of Oxford building up a decent attack. When we changed formation in the second half, we scored after only six minutes.
I think tactically Chris Wilder took a chance in the first half that did'nt work out. He had the good sense to change it and it paid off.
The new players all did well and we got the important 3 points. Very positive!.
I personally don't care about the teams above us? While they are all concentrating and fighting it out for automatic promotion, Oxford can steadily get in form for the play-offs.
The important thing for us is to forget about the teams above us. We need to concentrate on the final play off place. We need to put some distance us and the chasing pack of teams directly below us in the league.
Bench: Hall, Kerrouche, Mclaren, Worley, Tonks
35 year fan
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5:42pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Whitstablexile
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5:52pm Wed 15 Feb 12
disco80
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6:22pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Whitstablexile wrote:Totally agree mate, we are crap at home , c.w doesnt know what to do about it and loads of fans make excuses about the away teams parking the bus??!! well we need to work out how to break them down, dubes, whing, wilson, hall constable all crap last night,
What f.cking planet are you on? Oxford is my club, has been since the early eighties when I lived 5 minutes from the Manor Ground. I've got every right to criticise any aspect of my club whenever I like. So has every other Oxford fan. Blindly supporting the manager through thick and thin is a mugs game, usually practised by plastic fans and those new to football.
jontyg
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8:42pm Wed 15 Feb 12
dabombdiggy wrote:Agree with this post. Nothing like a good derby game to make things interesting.
Boys, How did Kerrouche look apart from the link up for the goal? An STFC fan here keen to see you come up with us boys so we can have a few matches next season so as long as we finish 1st.... ;-)
35 year fan
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12:18am Thu 16 Feb 12
disco80 wrote:neither of you answered my question but thats fine. keep chipping away at the club if you like. all clubs have paying customers like you. dont confuse yourselves with supporters though.
Whitstablexile wrote: What f.cking planet are you on? Oxford is my club, has been since the early eighties when I lived 5 minutes from the Manor Ground. I've got every right to criticise any aspect of my club whenever I like. So has every other Oxford fan. Blindly supporting the manager through thick and thin is a mugs game, usually practised by plastic fans and those new to football.Totally agree mate, we are crap at home , c.w doesnt know what to do about it and loads of fans make excuses about the away teams parking the bus??!! well we need to work out how to break them down, dubes, whing, wilson, hall constable all crap last night,
Whitstablexile
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8:17am Thu 16 Feb 12
A word of advice to you. It is extremely unwise to question the loyalty of people you don't know.
Not a supporter? You dick.
Brian Gibbs
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5:31pm Thu 16 Feb 12
At Burton he played Hall in the first half and we were shocking and what does the manager do in the next match play Hall again and what happens. Hall is half a yard behind the pace and we get overrun with him in the team.
A good leader knows when to get help and we need a forward coach because it is clear Wilder, Lewis and Melville are not up to it.
Having seen some Div 1 football in the last few weeks you can be sure that this team is not good enough.
BenkiuGuasu
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8:33am Fri 17 Feb 12
dabombdiggy wrote:Kerrouche only played 15 minutes but immediately made an impact and was instrumental in the goal that came only a couple of minutes after coming on.
Boys, How did Kerrouche look apart from the link up for the goal?
An STFC fan here keen to see you come up with us boys so we can have a few matches next season so as long as we finish 1st.... ;-)
He also chased everything down and got booked for it. Playing only 15 minutes allowed him to chase everything I guess...
He looked a class above in truth.
BenkiuGuasu
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8:38am Fri 17 Feb 12
disco80 wrote:Whing played well.
Whitstablexile wrote:Totally agree mate, we are crap at home , c.w doesnt know what to do about it and loads of fans make excuses about the away teams parking the bus??!! well we need to work out how to break them down, dubes, whing, wilson, hall constable all crap last night,
What f.cking planet are you on? Oxford is my club, has been since the early eighties when I lived 5 minutes from the Manor Ground. I've got every right to criticise any aspect of my club whenever I like. So has every other Oxford fan. Blindly supporting the manager through thick and thin is a mugs game, usually practised by plastic fans and those new to football.
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Yes Whistable and the like have the right to criticize, and they don't cease to be supporters because of it.
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However, I still think Wilder's doing a good job.
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The yellows fate on Tuesday wasn't helped by the small crowd and distinct lack of atmosphere. A bit more singing and "come on you yellowing" would help our cause a lot.
click2find
BigAlBiker says...
9:44am Wed 15 Feb 12
Personally i would replace him at the end of the season for a more tactilly aware manager, his time is up.
Liked Holmes, quick and keen, the fastest man in yellow since Matt Green.