# 2014–15 Oxford United F.C. season

The 2014–15 season was Oxford United's fifth season in League Two after returning from the Conference, and their first under new manager Michael Appleton. They finished 13th in the table, following an 8th-place finish in League Two in 2013–14.
In July 2014, private equity broker Darryl Eales took over the club from previous owner Ian Lenagan and installed Mark Ashton as Chief Executive and former Portsmouth, Blackpool and Blackburn Rovers manager Michael Appleton as head coach. The new management team had little time to assemble a side, with Danny Hylton (signed by outgoing manager Gary Waddock to replace long-serving forward James Constable) the only new player among the first-team squad at the time of the takeover. The season opened badly: a series of four narrow defeats left United pointless and at the foot of the League Two table and fearing a second relegation to non-League football. Matters gradually improved, but the team never reached the top half of the table and calls were heard during the season for Appleton's dismissal. An unbeaten run of eight games (including five wins) at the end of the season eased relegation fears and led to a 13th-place finish, the club's highest position during the season. This late upturn, alongside the solid strike record of leading scorer Hylton and the performances of loanees Tyrone Barnett and Kemar Roofe (the latter to sign permanently after the season ended), gave cause for optimism for the following season, and dampened criticism of what was ultimately an underwhelming season.
United beat Grimsby Town of the National League in the first round of the FA Cup, but were eliminated by fellow League Two side Tranmere Rovers after a second-round replay. After an eye-catching first-round away victory over higher-division opposition in the shape of eventual League One champions Bristol City, the club were narrowly eliminated from the League Cup in the second round, losing 7–6 on penalties to Premier League side West Bromwich Albion after a hard-fought 1–1 draw at The Hawthorns. Oxford fell at the first hurdle in the Football League Trophy, losing to Cheltenham Town in the first round.
It was the club's 121st year in existence, their 115th of competitive football and their 66th since turning professional. This article covers the period from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015.

## Team kit

| Home colours | Away colours |

## Match fixtures and results
### League Two
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 11 | Morecambe | 46 | 17 | 12 | 17 | 53 | 52 | +1 | 63 |
| 12 | Northampton Town | 46 | 18 | 7 | 21 | 67 | 62 | +5 | 61 |
| 13 | Oxford United | 46 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 50 | 49 | +1 | 61 |
| 14 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 46 | 17 | 8 | 21 | 58 | 59 | −1 | 59 |
| 15 | AFC Wimbledon | 46 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 54 | 60 | −6 | 58 |

#### Results

The fixtures for the 2014–15 season were announced on 18 June 2014 at 9am.

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 2 May 2015. 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 | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A |
| Result | L | L | L | L | D | D | D | W | D | L | W | L | W | W | L | L | W | D | D | W | D | L | W | L | D | L | D | W | D | L | L | W | D | D | W | D | L | L | W | W | D | D | D | W | W | W |
| Position | 21 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 23 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 |

### FA Cup

The draw for the first round of the FA Cup was made on 27 October 2014.

### League Cup

The draw for the first round was made on 17 June 2014 at 10am. Oxford United were drawn away to Bristol City.

### Football League Trophy
## Squad statistics
### Appearances and goals

    As of 2 May 2015
| 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 | 34 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | WAL | Jonathan Meades | 10 | 0 | 5+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Tom Newey | 15 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Joe Skarz | 18 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | ENG | Michael Raynes | 5 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | ENG | Richard Brindley | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Johnny Mullins | 49 | 2 | 42+2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Jake Wright | 48 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Danny Rose | 34 | 3 | 25+4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Junior Brown | 15 | 0 | 6+5 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Carlton Morris | 9 | 1 | 5+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | ENG | Danny Hylton | 49 | 16 | 41+3 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | ENG | Alfie Potter | 18 | 3 | 9+4 | 2 | 2+1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | SCO | Alex MacDonald | 14 | 3 | 13+1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | DF | ENG | George Baldock | 12 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | DF | ENG | David Hunt | 5 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | ENG | Josh Ruffels | 38 | 0 | 30+4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | FW | IRL | Callum O'Dowda | 42 | 4 | 21+18 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | ENG | Andy Whing | 23 | 0 | 18+3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | ENG | Matt Bevans | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | GK | ENG | George Long | 11 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 18 | GK | ENG | Jamie Ashdown | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | EIR | Michael Collins | 43 | 2 | 38+1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | ENG | Giorgio Rasulo | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | GK | NZL | Max Crocombe | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | ENG | Sam Long | 10 | 1 | 8+2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | FW | ENG | Josh Shama | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | ENG | Josh Ashby | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | DF | ENG | Joe Riley | 28 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 25 | FW | CIV | Armand Gnanduillet | 4 | 0 | 0+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | FW | WAL | Wes Burns | 8 | 1 | 6+2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | FW | ENG | Tyrone Barnett | 14 | 6 | 11+1 | 4 | 1+1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | FW | ENG | Kyle Vassell | 6 | 1 | 2+4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | FW | ENG | Alex Jakubiak | 10 | 1 | 2+7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | MF | ENG | Brian Howard | 8 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | MF | ENG | Kemar Roofe | 16 | 6 | 12+4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | MF | ENG | Sam Humphreys | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | FW | ENG | James Roberts | 25 | 5 | 5+19 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | MF | ENG | Aidan Hawtin | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | DF | ENG | Chey Dunkley | 9 | 0 | 7+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | DF | ENG | Tareiq Holmes-Dennis | 17 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | FW | ENG | John Campbell | 3 | 1 | 1+2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | FW | EIR | Patrick Hoban | 20 | 1 | 15+5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 44 | FW | ENG | Will Hoskins | 6 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
* Source:

### Top scorers

    As of 2 May 2015
| Place | Position | Nation | Number | Name | League Two | FA Cup | League Cup | JP Trophy | Total |
| 1 | FW | | 10 | Danny Hylton | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 |
| 2 | FW | | 27 | Tyrone Barnett | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2 | MF | | 29 | Kemar Roofe | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 4 | FW | | 31 | James Roberts | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 5 | FW | | 15 | Callum O'Dowda | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | MF | | 11 | Alfie Potter | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | MF | | 11 | Alex MacDonald | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | MF | | 7 | Danny Rose | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 9 | MF | | 19 | Michael Collins | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 | DF | | 5 | Johnny Mullins | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | DF | | 12 | George Baldock | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | FW | | 26 | Wes Burns | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | FW | | 36 | John Campbell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | FW | | 9 | Patrick Hoban | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | FW | | 28 | Alex Jakubiak | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | FW | | 22 | Sam Long | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | FW | | 9 | Carlton Morris | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | FW | | 27 | Kyle Vassell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | Own Goals | Own Goals | Own Goals | Own Goals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | 50 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 59 |

### Disciplinary record

    As of 2 May 2015
| Number | Nation | Position | Name | League Two | League Two | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | JP Trophy | JP Trophy | Total | Total |
| 1 | | GK | Ryan Clarke | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | | DF | Jonathan Meades | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | | DF | Joe Skarz | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 5 | | DF | Johnny Mullins | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 6 | | DF | Jake Wright | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 7 | | MF | Danny Rose | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 8 | | MF | Junior Brown | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | | FW | Carlton Morris | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | | FW | Danny Hylton | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| 11 | | MF | Alex MacDonald | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 12 | | DF | George Baldock | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 14 | | MF | Josh Ruffels | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | | DF | Andy Whing | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 18 | | GK | George Long | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 19 | | MF | Michael Collins | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 21 | | GK | Max Crocombe | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 22 | | MF | Sam Long | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 25 | | DF | Joe Riley | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 25 | | FW | Armand Gnanduillet | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 | | FW | Tyrone Barnett | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 29 | | MF | Brian Howard | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 29 | | MF | Kemar Roofe | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 39 | | FW | Patrick Hoban | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 44 | | FW | Will Hoskins | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | 57 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 63 | 3 |

## Transfers

Players transferred in :
| Date | Pos. | Name | From | Fee | Ref. |
| 6 June 2014 | FW | Danny Hylton | Rotherham United | Free | |
| 15 July 2014 | MF | Michael Collins | Scunthorpe United | Free | |
| 31 July 2014 | MF | Junior Brown | Fleetwood Town | Free | |
| 25 August 2014 | FW | Will Hoskins | Brighton & Hove Albion | Free | |
| 15 September 2014 | MF | Brian Howard | Birmingham City | Free | |
| 21 November 2014 | FW | Patrick Hoban | Dundalk | Undisclosed | |
| 27 November 2014 | FW | John Campbell | Jarrow Roofing Boldon Community Association | Undisclosed | |
| 24 January 2015 | DF | Joe Skarz | Rotherham United | Free | |
| 2 February 2015 | MF | Alex MacDonald | Burton Albion | Undisclosed | |
| 3 February 2015 | GK | Jamie Ashdown | Crawley Town | Free | |
| 9 February 2015 | FW | Jeremy Balmy | Notts County | Free | |
| Players transferred out ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | To | Fee | Ref. |
| 8 May 2014 | MF | Scott Davies | Dunstable Town | Free | |
| 8 May 2014 | MF | Sean Rigg | AFC Wimbledon | Free | |
| 20 May 2014 | FW | Deane Smalley | Plymouth Argyle | Free | |
| 21 May 2014 | FW | James Constable | Eastleigh | Free | |
| 24 December 2014 | FW | Tyrone Marsh | Ebbsfleet United | Free | |
| 7 January 2015 | MF | Junior Brown | Mansfield Town | Free | |
| 9 January 2015 | DF | Michael Raynes | Mansfield Town | Free | |
| 16 January 2015 | MF | Alfie Potter | AFC Wimbledon | Free | |
| 27 January 2015 | DF | Tom Newey | Northampton Town | Free | |
| Players loaned in ||||||
| Date from | Pos. | Name | From | Date to | Ref. |
| 25 July 2014 | GK | George Long | Sheffield United | January 2015 | |
| 28 July 2014 | DF | Joe Riley | Bolton Wanderers | 1 January 2015 | |
| 4 August 2014 | FW | Carlton Morris | Norwich City | 23 October 2014 | |
| 13 August 2014 | FW | Alex Jakubiak | Watford | 4 November 2014 | |
| 10 September 2014 | FW | Tyrone Barnett | Peterborough United | 12 December 2014 | |
| 16 October 2014 | DF | Tareiq Holmes-Dennis | Charlton Athletic | 2 February 2015 | |
| 20 November 2014 | DF | Chey Dunkley | Kidderminster Harriers | 1 January 2015 | |
| 27 November 2014 | FW | Wes Burns | Bristol City | 2 February 2015 | |
| 29 January 2015 | DF | Richard Brindley | Rotherham United | 29 February 2015 | |
| 12 February 2015 | DF | George Baldock | Milton Keynes Dons | 30 June 2015 | |
| 13 February 2015 | MF | Kemar Roofe | West Bromwich Albion | 30 June 2015 | |
| 19 February 2015 | FW | Giorgio Rasulo | Milton Keynes Dons | 26 March 2015 | |
| 2 March 2015 | FW | Armand Gnanduillet | Chesterfield | 26 March 2015 | |
| 26 March 2015 | FW | Kyle Vassell | Peterborough United | 30 June 2015 | |
| Players loaned out ||||||
| Date from | Pos. | Name | To | Date to | Ref. |
| 5 August 2014 | FW | Tyrone Marsh | Welling United | 24 December 2014 | |
| 29 August 2014 | FW | Josh Shama | Banbury United | 26 September 2014 | |
| 29 August 2014 | DF | Matt Bevans | Farnborough | 26 September 2014 | |
| 29 August 2014 | MF | Aidan Hawtin | Banbury United | 26 September 2014 | |
| 30 October 2014 | DF | Tom Newey | Northampton Town | 2 January 2015 | |
| 31 October 2014 | DF | David Hunt | Barnet | end-January 2015 | |
| 20 November 2014 | MF | Sam Long | Kidderminster Harriers | 1 January 2015 | |
| 27 November 2014 | MF | Junior Brown | Mansfield Town | 3 January 2015 | |
| 17 February 2015 | FW | John Campbell | Torquay United | 30 June 2015 | |
| 20 February 2015 | GK | Max Crocombe | Nuneaton Town | 30 June 2015 | |
| 13 March 2015 | FW | Josh Shama | Farnborough Town | 30 June 2015 | |
| 13 March 2015 | FW | Jeremy Balmy | Oxford City | 30 June 2015 | |
* ↑ Hoban agreed to join Oxford United on 21 November 2014, and officially joined the club on 1 January 2015.