Oxford United Achieves First League One Win Under Aaron Ramsey

Aaron Ramsey hailed Oxford United’s resilience after they dug out their first League One win of the season with a hard-earned victory at Stevenage.

Second-half goals from Gatlin O'Donkor and Cameron Brannagan, the latter from the penalty spot, gave the U’s control before a stoppage-time reply from the hosts set up a nervy finish. Oxford held firm, though, to deliver Ramsey his first competitive victory as United boss.

“It was a really tough place to go to but a test that we stood up to,” Ramsey told BBC Radio Oxford, clearly satisfied with the way his side handled a notoriously awkward away trip.

Oxford had to graft for it. The opening 45 minutes were about surviving the onslaught and winning duels rather than dictating play.

“Particularly in the first half we knew that we would have to be on it from an out-of-possession point of view and I thought we were brilliant, we defended the box superbly,” Ramsey said.

That defensive steel laid the groundwork. Once they had weathered Stevenage’s pressure, Oxford began to turn the screw.

“That gave us the confidence and the platform to take the game to them in the second half and I felt we really had control of the game then,” Ramsey added.

The breakthrough came after the interval, and it arrived via a player whose future already lies elsewhere. Stan Mills, making his first appearance since Ramsey confirmed he has agreed to join Preston North End in January, stepped off the bench and immediately changed the tempo. The 22-year-old provided the assist for O'Donkor’s opener, a moment that shifted the contest decisively in Oxford’s favour.

“The reception that he got from the Oxford fans was really pleasing and Stan deserves that,” said Ramsey. “He's been a player of high quality over the last few years and he deserves that moment with the fans today.”

Brannagan’s penalty doubled the advantage and seemed to have killed the game, only for Stevenage to strike late in added time and crank up the tension again. Oxford, this time, refused to buckle.

Ramsey’s team now head into Tuesday’s trip to Huddersfield with their first league win on the board and a clear marker laid down about their resolve away from home.