# 2011–12 Oxford United F.C. season

Oxford United F.C. season 2011–12 was the club's second season in League Two after returning from the Conference. It was the club's 118th year in existence, their 112th of competitive football and their 63rd since turning professional. This article covers the period from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012.
After consolidation of the club's newly regained League status the season before (Oxford had finished 12th in League Two in 2010–11), and an unbeaten pre-season campaign that included victories over higher-division opposition in the shape of MK Dons and Birmingham City, hopes for the new season were high, but United started with an away defeat to Rotherham United on the opening day. Results improved, however, and the club briefly reached the automatic promotion places in October. They spent most of the remainder of the season in the playoff places, but a seven-match winless streak at the end of the season meant they finished outside of the playoffs in 9th place, a pattern that was to be repeated for the following two seasons under manager Chris Wilder. Doing the double (victories home and away) over local rivals Swindon Town, the eventual League champions, for the first time since 1973 offered some consolation to the Oxford United faithful. A long-range goal from midfielder Peter Leven in a home victory over Port Vale in October was another highlight of the season.
United were eliminated in the first round of both major cup competitions by higher-division opposition: League One side Sheffield United in the FA Cup and Cardiff City of the Championship in the League Cup. James Constable was the club's leading scorer for the fourth consecutive season, with 11 goals, but this was to be his least prolific season at the club.

## Team kit

This season's team kit supplier is the American brand Nike, via JustSport, with this season being the third in a three-year deal. The club's main sponsor for the 2011–12 season is Bridle Insurance, an Oxfordshire-based insurance company.
| Home colours | Away colours | Home goalkeeper |

## Match fixtures and results
### League Two

For more information on this season's Football League Two, see 2011–12 Football League Two. Oxford United's home games are played at the Kassam Stadium

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 5 May. Source: BBC Sport

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| Ground | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A |
| Result | L | D | W | W | D | L | D | W | W | D | W | W | D | L | W | W | L | L | L | D | W | W | D | D | W | L | D | D | W | D | W | D | W | D | L | W | W | D | W | L | L | D | D | D | L | L |
| Position | 23 | 20 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 |

### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 7 | Crewe Alexandra (O, P) | 46 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 67 | 59 | +8 | 72 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 8 | Gillingham | 46 | 20 | 10 | 16 | 79 | 62 | +17 | 70 | |
| 9 | Oxford United | 46 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 59 | 48 | +11 | 68 | |
| 10 | Rotherham United | 46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 67 | 63 | +4 | 67 | |
| 11 | Aldershot Town | 46 | 19 | 9 | 18 | 54 | 52 | +2 | 66 | |
* ↑ Four teams play for one spot and promotion to Football League One.

### Oxfordshire Senior Cup
## Squad statistics
### Appearances and goals

    As of 5 May 2012
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | League Two | League Two | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | JP Trophy | JP Trophy |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Ryan Clarke | 44 | 0 | 42+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Damian Batt | 44 | 1 | 34+6 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Anthony Tonkin | 14 | 0 | 6+8 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | ENG | Paul McLaren | 21 | 1 | 16+2 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Michael Duberry | 37 | 3 | 36+0 | 3 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Jake Wright | 47 | 0 | 43+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | NIR | Adam Chapman | 14 | 1 | 10+4 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Simon Heslop | 29 | 3 | 25+1 | 3 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | James Constable | 43 | 11 | 32+8 | 11 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | ENG | Deane Smalley | 26 | 2 | 7+15 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 2+0 | 1 |
| 11 | FW | ENG | Jon-Paul Pittman | 16 | 3 | 6+9 | 3 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | ENG | Asa Hall | 38 | 7 | 24+10 | 7 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | ENG | Alfie Potter | 26 | 2 | 20+4 | 2 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | ENG | Andy Whing | 45 | 0 | 36+5 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | NIR | Tony Capaldi | 1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 18 | FW | ENG | Dean Morgan | 10 | 1 | 10+0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | ENG | Oli Johnson | 17 | 3 | 8+9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | SCO | Peter Leven | 42 | 6 | 36+3 | 6 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 21 | GK | ENG | Wayne Brown | 4 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | ENG | Harry Worley | 12 | 0 | 6+4 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 23 | FW | ENG | Scott Rendell | 17 | 3 | 14+3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | ENG | Mark Wilson | 7 | 0 | 4+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | ENG | Liam Davis | 46 | 2 | 41+3 | 2 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 27 | FW | COL | Cristian Montaño | 9 | 2 | 6+3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | FW | ENG | Tom Craddock | 9 | 1 | 5+3 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| Players no longer at the club: ||||||||||||||
| — | MF | ENG | Simon Clist | 1 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 |
| — | DF | SCO | Steven Kinniburgh | 3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| — | MF | ENG | Josh Payne | 9 | 0 | 2+4 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| Loan players no longer at the club: ||||||||||||||
| 27 | MF | ENG | Lee Holmes | 7 | 2 | 5+2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | FW | ENG | Jonathan Franks | 3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 30 | FW | ENG | Robert Hall | 14 | 6 | 11+2 | 5 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 1 |
| 31 | FW | ENG | Lewis Guy | 9 | 1 | 8+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 33 | FW | ENG | Danny Philliskirk | 4 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 39 | FW | ALG | Mehdi Kerrouche | 4 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Andy Haworth | 4 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 31 | GK | ENG | Connor Ripley | 1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | GK | ARG | Damián Martinez | 1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Top scorers

    As of 5 May 2012
| Place | Position | Number | Name | League Two | FA Cup | League Cup | JP Trophy | Total |
| 1 | FW | 9 | James Constable | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| 2 | MF | 14 | Asa Hall | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 3 | FW | 30 | Robert Hall | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| = | MF | 20 | Peter Leven | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 5 | DF | 5 | Michael Duberry | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| = | MF | 8 | Simon Heslop | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| = | FW | 19 | Oli Johnson | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| = | FW | 15 | Jon-Paul Pittman | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| = | FW | 23 | Scott Rendell | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | MF | 26 | Liam Davis | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| = | MF | 27 | Lee Holmes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| = | MF | 27 | Cristian Montaño | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| = | MF | 11 | Alfie Potter | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| = | FW | 10 | Deane Smalley | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 14 | DF | 2 | Damian Batt | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| = | MF | 7 | Adam Chapman | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| = | MF | 23 | Simon Clist | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| = | FW | 15 | Tom Craddock | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| = | FW | 27 | Lewis Guy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| = | MF | 4 | Paul McLaren | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| = | FW | 18 | Dean Morgan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| | | | TOTALS | 58 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 62 |

### Disciplinary record

    As of 5 May 2012
| Number | Position | Name | League Two | League Two | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | JP Trophy | JP Trophy | Total | Total |
| 2 | DF | Damian Batt | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| 5 | DF | Michael Duberry | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| 6 | DF | Jake Wright | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| 9 | FW | James Constable | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| 26 | MF | Liam Davis | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 29 | FW | Tom Craddock | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 21 | GK | Wayne Brown | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 16 | DF | Andy Whing | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | Asa Hall | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | Oli Johnson | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | Peter Leven | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Simon Heslop | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 1 | GK | Ryan Clarke | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 30 | FW | Robert Hall | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 31 | MF | Andy Haworth | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | Lee Holmes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | Paul McLaren | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | Jon-Paul Pittman | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | Alfie Potter | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 23 | FW | Scott Rendell | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | Harry Worley | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 27 | FW | Lewis Guy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 39 | FW | Mehdi Kerrouche | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 | FW | Cristian Montaño | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 18 | FW | Dean Morgan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 33 | FW | Danny Philliskirk | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Anthony Tonkin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | | TOTALS | 75 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 80 | 7 |

## Transfers

Players transferred in :
| Date | Pos. | Name | Previous Club | Fee | Ref. |
| 11 July 2011 | MF | Peter Leven | Milton Keynes Dons | Free | |
| 28 July 2011 | GK | Wayne Brown | Supersport United | Free | |
| 29 July 2011 | MF | Liam Davis | Northampton Town | Free | |
| 20 January 2012 | FW | Oli Johnson | Norwich City | Free | |
| 31 January 2012 | MF | Mark Wilson | Doncaster Rovers | Free | |
| 22 May 2012 | MF | Sean Rigg | Port Vale | Undisc | |
| Players transferred out ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | To | Fee | Ref. |
| 1 July 2011 | DF | Djoumin Sangaré | Kettering Town | | |
| 1 July 2011 | DF | Mitchell Hanson | Eastwood Town | | |
| 1 January 2012 | FW | Matt Green | Mansfield Town | | |
| 3 January 2012 | MF | Simon Clist | Hereford United | | |
| 24 January 2012 | DF | Ben Purkiss | Hereford United | | |
| 27 January 2012 | DF | Steven Kinniburgh | Released | | |
| 5 March 2012 | MF | Josh Payne | Aldershot Town | Free | |
| Players loaned in ||||||
| Date from | Pos. | Name | From | Date to | Ref. |
| 9 August 2011 | FW | Lewis Guy | Milton Keynes Dons | 2 January 2012 | |
| 31 August 2011 | FW | Jonathan Franks | Middlesbrough | 1 January 2012 | |
| 12 September 2011 | FW | Robert Hall | West Ham United | 14 January 2012 | |
| 16 September 2011 | MF | Andy Haworth | Bury | 5 November 2011 | |
| 21 October 2011 | FW | Danny Philliskirk | Sheffield United | n/k | |
| 31 January 2012 | FW | Scott Rendell | Wycombe Wanderers | end of season | |
| 9 February 2012 | FW | Mehdi Kerrouche | Swindon Town | 12 March 2012 | |
| 14 February 2012 | MF | Lee Holmes | Southampton | 14 March 2012 | |
| 8 March 2012 | FW | Dean Morgan | Chesterfield | end of season | |
| 16 March 2012 | FW | Cristian Montaño | West Ham | end of season | |
| Players loaned out ||||||
| Date from | Pos. | Name | To | Date to | Ref. |
| 22 July 2011 | FW | Matt Green | Mansfield Town | 31 December 2011 | |
| 5 August 2011 | DF | Ben Purkiss | Darlington | 9 November 2011 | |
| 12 August 2011 | FW | Aaron Woodley | Banbury United | 1 January 2012 | |
| 18 August 2011 | MF | Simon Clist | Hereford United | 3 January 2012 | |
| 12 September 2011 | FW | Jon-Paul Pittman | Crawley Town | 12 December 2011 | |
| 12 January 2012 | MF | Josh Payne | Aldershot Town | 5 March 2012 | |
| 19 January 2012 | FW | Deane Smalley | Bradford City | end of season | |
| 27 January 2012 | MF | Adam Chapman | Newport County | 27 February 2012 | |