Michael Duberry, Simon Heslop and Chris Wilder were all unhappy that the referee allowed a push on Dubes by Bantams central defender Luke Oliver in the build up to the equaliser, but they were all honest enough to admit they should have wrapped the points up long before Ross Hannah's 78th minute goal. And you can be sure that Wilder didn't have the lads locked in the dressing room afterwards to discuss the poor performance by the officials.
It was interesting to hear a few moans from the Oxford faithful after the game, but it's far too early in the season to get gloomy surely? Six or even four points in the next two fixtures at home against Shrewsbury tomorrow evening and then away at the County Ground on Sunday will put smiles back on everyone's faces.
Former Chelsea and Leeds defender Duberry has become a bit a of a cult hero already with the fans and, after watching the last two games, I can see why. He is typical of guys who have played at a much higher level and have dropped down the divisions for no other reason than Father Time is against him. He might not win many sprints in training any more, but his speed of thought has kept Oxford out of trouble on several occasions in the last couple of matches.
However, when the local radio reporter asked him about next Sunday's game against Swindon you could hear a little exasperation in his voice. "I've been asked about THAT game ever since I arrived," he said politely, "But we have to face Shrewsbury first." Duberry knows how much a win against Swindon would mean to the fans, but he also knows they will have forgotten all about it if the Robins get promoted at the end of the season and Oxford stay in League Two.
Duberry is a good professional. You know that he will be fully focused on Shrewsbury tomorrow and THEN turn his attention to Swindon. By Sunday evening he will then be thinking about the home game against Aldershot. And you can be sure that at nearly 36 years of age he will be using all of his experience to keep his team mates concentrating on the next task in hand whoever the opposition is.
It was good to see Simon Heslop back and he scored a cracker in the 29th minute to put Oxford in the driver's seat. It was just a shame that the team stayed in second gear.
Simon hasn't had a good pre-season with injuries and understandably ran out of steam, but I pointed out to him that at about the same time last season he scored another long range effort. In turn he reminded me that last year's strike was the better of the two!
Hannah's story is one to warm the heart of any football fan - dare I say even Us supporters after a decent interval of mourning! At 25 years of age he felt his time had come and gone, but after scoring 37 goals for Matlock Town two seasons ago and 52 last term, Peter Jackson decided to take a punt on him and was rewarded when Hannah flicked the ball home from four yards with his FIRST touch in league football.
The push on Duberry aside, Hannah showed what a predator he is by anticipating the flick-on to poke the ball home.
A special mention also goes to Oxford full back Liam Davis. This fella looks a class act and a great bit of business by Wilder. Signed on a free in the summer after running down his contract at Northampton, the winger has been playing at full back and tormented on loan defender Liam Moore who is on a one month deal with the Bantams. Any more afternoons like Saturday and 18 year Moore old will be begging Sven Goran Eriksson to take him home to Leicester.
Apologies for the excessive use of puns, but this is my clipping from this morning's paper.
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