Oxford United Secures First League One Win Under Aaron Ramsey

Aaron Ramsey hailed his Oxford United side for “standing up to the test” as they dug out their first League One win of the season away 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 late Stevenage strike in added time set up a nervy finish. Oxford held firm, delivering Ramsey his first victory since taking charge.

“It was a really tough place to go to but a test that we stood up to,” Ramsey told BBC Radio Oxford, satisfied that his team had survived exactly the kind of battle many sides fail.

Oxford had to earn the right to play. Ramsey made it clear the opening 45 minutes were about resilience, not rhythm.

“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,” he said.

That defensive discipline laid the foundations. Once the storm eased, Oxford stepped forward.

“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 arrived after the interval, and it came with a subplot. Stan Mills, playing for the first time since Ramsey confirmed he has agreed to join Preston North End in January, came off the bench and immediately influenced the contest. The 22-year-old provided the assist for O’Donkor’s opener, a reminder of his quality at a time when his future is already decided.

“The reception that he got from the Oxford fans was really pleasing and Stan deserves that,” Ramsey said.

“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 lead and looked to have settled the contest, only for Stevenage to strike deep into stoppage time and crank up the tension again. Oxford, though, refused to crack, seeing the game out to bank their first three points of the campaign.

Next up is another test of character: a trip to Huddersfield on Tuesday, 1 September. Ramsey’s side now travel with a first win behind them and the sense that, when the fight comes, they can meet it head on.