Oxford 0 v 4 Millers, Report
An emphatic 15 first-half minutes saw the Millers score four goals to overcome Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium with David Noble, Kari Arnason, Johnny Mullins and Ben Pringle all getting on the scoresheet.
Manager Steve Evans named an unchanged side to the one that collected a point against Southend United at the weekend, and the only change in the squad saw them start with a sub-light due to the absence of Courtney Cameron.
The game took a while to kick into gear, with Sean Rigg’s scuffed shot from the edge of the box the only real attempt of the first 10 minutes. It was Rigg again who had sight of goal midway through the first-half who had the clearest sight of goal after some neat play through the middle cut open the Millers back four. The ball landed at the attacker’s feet 12 yards out, but with only Andy Warrington to beat he fired wide.
Rigg and his Oxford side were soon punished just after the half-hour mark as Noble collected a knockdown from Arnason’s free-kick and saw his low shot deflected past a wrong-footed Luke McCormick to put the visitors ahead. Within three minutes the lead was doubled when Pringle’s whipped corner was met well by Arnason who glanced a header into the far post.
There was a slight blemish on the Millers’ half from an Oxford free-kick; Warrington was flattened by the onrushin attackers but after few moments on the deck he regained his breath and was able to continue.
With five minutes remaining to the break Noble this time turned provider with a lovely reverse pass to Frecklington; the Millers midfielder played a short pass into Mullins who took a touch before digging out a rocket of a shot into the far post against the club where he spent a period on loan earlier this season.
Rigg had a poor header goalwards but the Millers capped the half with a fourth when Alex Revell exposed United’s defence before crossing for Pringle to capitalise at the far post with a fourth for Evans’ side.
Half-time
Oxford 0v4 Millers
Unfortunately for the 237 travelling Millers, the second-half didn’t live up to the first, but after coming under only a small bit of pressure in the opening five minutes they took control and came close to adding to their tally. Revell and Frecklington continued to exploit the home team’s defence and the latter came close to a fifth midway through the half as he got on the end of the striker’s flick and lifted the ball over the onrushing McCormick only to see former Miller Michael Raynes kick clear.
Substitute Kayode Odejayi came close after appearing as a second-half sub but Raynes again was the difference as he deflected wide leaving the Millers to come away from the Kassam Stadium with a 4-0 victory.
Full-time
Oxford United 0v4 Millers
Oxford: McCormick, Raynes, Duberry, Wright, Batt, Heslop, Whing, Davis, Potter, Smalley, Rigg.
Subs: Constable, Capaldi, Worley, Parker, Davies, Craddock, Crocombe.
Millers: Warrington, Mullins, Davis, Arnason, Ridehalgh, Noble, O’Connor, Pringle, Frecklington, Nardiello, Revell.
Subs: Thompson, Slew, Bradley, Odejayi, Morgan, Agard.