Oxford boss Des Buckingham felt his team’s showing was as good as he has seen since taking charge last November as they flailed Fleetwood 4-0 at the Kassam Stadium for their biggest win of the season.
The U’s had the match in the bag by half-time as Cameron Brannagan, Mark Harris and Owen Dale put them three up by the break, with Harris adding his second seven minutes from time.
Buckingham said: “That probably was the best 90 minutes we’ve had, with everything, since I’ve been here.
“Actually, we have played as well as that the last couple of games, just not scored the goals.
“It was very good, to play like that, score four goals and keep a clean sheet was just about perfect.
“But the main thing was to get the win to make sure we’re on track to be where we want to be.
“We showed the type of football we want to play and getting that vital second goal was so important for us today.
“We can’t get carried away with it – we now need to take this on to Burton in the next match, but certainly the clean sheet is very pleasing, especially for Jamie Cumming and the back four.
“The two goals for Mark Harris is massive – it takes him into double figures. And though I don’t know what target he had set himself for the season, he must be getting close to it.
“It was important he played 90 minutes for us with Will Goodwin not ready for today, and I’m delighted he’s got two goals.
“It’s really good too to see Josh Murphy seemingly enjoying his football, and showing consistently what a good player he is.
“Wingers’ end products sometimes lets them down, but Josh has really worked on that, and is reaping the rewards.
“I am delighted for our fans here that we have put on that showing at home. We’ve played very well away but it’s nice to do it at home in front of over 8,000 supporters.”
Fleetwood Town manager Charlie Adam was furious with his team’s showing, which leaves them six points off safety with just five games to go..
He said: “I’m embarrassed. That’s as bad as it’s been.
“There’s no hiding away from it – that was an embarrassment.
“This club has been in this division for a long, long time.
“People need to run hard, fight for the jersey, fight for the town and fight for these supporters.
“That was not there today in my team and I’m not going to accept it.
“I’ve told the lads in the dressing room that it’s unacceptable.
“Our supporters travelled a long, long way and paid a lot of money to come here, and we produced that sort of performance.
“It won’t happen from now until the end of the season.
“We didn’t run hard enough today and we didn’t get close enough to people.
“We allowed Oxford to dominate the game.
“Putting in the hard work and the hard yards, really wanting to fight – I didn’t see that today and it’s hugely disappointing.”
Slot: Guardiola contract is 'good news' for Premier League
Arne Slot believes it is "good news" for the Premier League that Pep Guardiola has signed a contract extension with Manchester City.
The Spaniard signed a two-year extension with the reigning champions and will remain in the dugout at the Etihad until 2027.
He has won 18 major trophies in his time at City, including six Premier League titles, and twice beat Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool to the top-flight crown by a single point.
Guardiola averages 2.35 points per game in the Premier League, the highest rate of any manager (20+ matches). Indeed, he is so far ahead of the next highest (Alex Ferguson's 2.16), he could lose his next 26 league games in a row and would still be top.
Slot is yet to face City since taking over from Klopp at the start of the season, with the rivals' first meeting of the season set for December 1.
"It's good news for City and for the league because everyone wants the best managers and the best players over here," Slot said when asked about Guardiola's new contract.
"He is definitely one of the best managers, maybe the best manager of the league.
"He's won four titles in a row, so it's fair to say he's maybe the best manager in the league.
"On the other hand, they have so many quality players that, if he would have made the choice to leave, I wouldn't have expected them to end up bottom of the league next season."
Other Premier League managers echoed Slot's sentiment, with Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, who inflicted a fourth consecutive defeat on City before the international break, saying it is the "best thing that can happen to the Premier League".
"He is one of the best coaches in the world," Hurzeler said. "With his ideas, he always brings something new to the football stage, and it is always a challenge to compete against him.
"He always adapts quickly, always has new ideas and he can always win the game. I'm very happy because we can learn from him and to compete with him is a big, big experience."
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe added: "He's contributed so much to English football. He's revolutionised how a lot of teams play.
"I think he's incredibly talented, and it's good for the English game that he's still here.
"He will continue to develop and evolve his style, and people will potentially continue to follow that. From the competition side, I think it keeps the Premier League as the best in the world."
Vlahovic out of Juventus clash with Milan
Dusan Vlahovic will miss Juventus' trip to Milan in Serie A this weekend and is also a doubt for the Champions League game at Aston Villa, head coach Thiago Motta has confirmed.
Vlahovic returned from the international break with a muscle problem in his left thigh, and the manager, after he confirmed the Serbian's absence for Saturday's game at San Siro, was asked about his chances of playing on Wednesday at Villa Park.
"I don't know. He definitely won't be there tomorrow. We hope to have him back as soon as possible," Motta told a press conference on Friday.
"Injuries are part of football. Now it's Vlahovic's turn, but we'll keep playing with the same principles, attacking and defending together."
Vlahovic is the latest of Motta's injury problems at Juventus. Argentine winger Nicolas Gonzalez missed the last six league games and is still unavailable, while Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik is a long-term absentee.
Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz will also miss the game with Milan and defender Juan Cabal recently suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury, the same issue which will keep fellow defender Gleison Bremer out for the rest of the season.
"I'm really disappointed for Cabal because, like Bremer, he'll be out for a long time," Motta said.
"This is another reason to push ourselves, to commit that bit more so that these absences don't weigh too heavily."
Juventus go into the game as the only unbeaten side in Serie A but find themselves sixth in the standings in what is so far a very tight title race, with just two points separating Motta's side from leaders Napoli.
"It's very balanced and this is good for both us and the public," Motta said.
"We must all try to continue like this. We have to try to get as many positive results as possible."
Milan are one place behind Juve but six points off Motta's side.
Vlahovic out of Juventus clash with AC Milan
Dusan Vlahovic will miss Juventus' trip to AC Milan in Serie A this weekend and is also a doubt for the Champions League game at Aston Villa, head coach Thiago Motta has confirmed.
Vlahovic returned from the international break with a muscle problem in his left thigh, and the manager, after he confirmed the Serbian's absence for Saturday's game at San Siro, was asked about his chances of playing on Wednesday at Villa Park.
"I don't know. He definitely won't be there tomorrow. We hope to have him back as soon as possible," Motta told a press conference on Friday.
"Injuries are part of football. Now it's Vlahovic's turn, but we'll keep playing with the same principles, attacking and defending together."
Vlahovic is the latest of Motta's injury problems at Juventus. Argentine winger Nicolas Gonzalez missed the last six league games and is still unavailable, while Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik is a long-term absentee.
Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz will also miss the game with Milan and defender Juan Cabal recently suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury, the same issue which will keep fellow defender Gleison Bremer out for the rest of the season.
"I'm really disappointed for Cabal because, like Bremer, he'll be out for a long time," Motta said.
"This is another reason to push ourselves, to commit that bit more so that these absences don't weigh too heavily."
Juventus go into the game as the only unbeaten side in Serie A, but find themselves sixth in the standings in what is so far a very tight title race, with just two points separating Motta's side from leaders Napoli.
"It's very balanced and this is good for both us and the public," Motta said.
"We must all try to continue like this. We have to try to get as many positive results as possible."
Milan are one place behind Juve but six points off Motta's side.
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