BIG MAC IS A ‘COLOSSUS’!
Towering defender to rescue
KARL Robinson hailed 6ft 4in centre-half Luke McNally after he headed a 95th-minute equaliser to earn Oxford a draw against Ipswich.
The point puts the U’s eight points clear of Town with seven games to go. McNally headed home Herbie Kane’s corner at the far post.
Until then, Ipswich had been the better side in the second half and they looked to be on course for victory after Bersant Celina turned in Wes Burns’ cross after 70 minutes at the end of a flowing counter-attack.
Robinson said: “I’d just said to my assistant, that if we stand here for the next three days, I don’t think we’re going to score and then the big man – the colossus – heads it in.
“I grew up with my dad telling me how big and how strong Ron Yeats was, and I grew up thinking how big and how much of a physical presence centre-halves should have. And Luke’s got that physical presence. In possession, I don’t think it was his best performance.”
Robinson added: “In the first half we were very good. We missed two one-on-ones and had four what I would call good opportunities to score.
“Then, all of a sudden, in the second half they were brilliant. They caused so many problems for us, tactically and technically, and we panicked a bit – we looked quite edgy, which is not like us.
“I don’t think people realised the strength of the wind. I thought we were really good first half, but it was maybe down to the wind!
“But they’re a good team and their manager – what a nice and humble man he is, and I wish him luck. But from our point of view, we keep them eight points away, which is big with seven games to go. Our performance wasn’t great, but we fought like anything.
“We managed to get the point, which is pleasing, and I’m going to enjoy tonight, although it is very frustrating that we didn’t play well.”
This was a battle between two of the division’s in-form teams, the U’s having won five of their previous six and Town unbeaten in nine going into it.
Gavin Whyte spurned two early chances for the home side, his shots barely troubling Christian Walton. Ryan Williams also scuffed an effort wide.
Burns was a very effective outlet on the right, and his crosses provided Town’s best openings. Just before the break, Burns cut in from the wing to strike an effort naroff rowly wide. He also brought a save from Simon Eastwood with a 20-yard drive, the keeper then denying Celina with his foot. Celina finished off a flowing 70th-minute move by turning in Burns’ cross to give Town the lead.
And the visitors looked to be heading towards a priceless three points before the U’s snatched the 95th-minute equaliser.
Town boss Kieran McKenna said: “There’s extreme disappointment in that dressing room, and extreme disappointment for our fans. I thought in the second half it was a performance that deserved the win.
“We probably should have put the game to bed. We have seen games out well before in my time here, we just switched the once this time. We can’t bemoan our luck, we have to improve and be more clinical.
“We knew we had a strong bench, and the subs we put on, Macauley Bonne and Sam Morsy, made a difference.
“Macauley is getting back to his best self – that was his best 45 since I’ve been here.
“Wes was going to give us penetration with the way Oxford pressed, and I was pleased with our patterns and structure, we did most things well.
“With that very strong wind, I fancied our chances in the second half. We had enough good chances to get a second. I don’t think they really looked like scoring against us. And from one of their few moments against us they go and score.
“Any time you concede in the 95th minute you are going to feel pretty sick, and that’s especially the case because a win would have been big.”