Oxford United 0 Sheffield United 1

Well that was as inevitable as something that was always bound to happen.

United on a high following a brilliant win at Bristol City, at home to a club that had lost every game so far this season. There could only ever have been one outcome.

Everyone in the Bird was saying it before the game; there was a nervousness among the assembled drinkers that only comes whenever United are expected to win. We all knew what was coming.

And so it came to pass.

It needn’t have been this way. Fielding the same starting XI from Ashton Gate, Oxford immediately got at the Blades, forcing them onto the back foot and looking to capitalise on Sheffield’s clear lack of confidence.

Despite having had a week under the tutelage of Chris Wilder – a manager that has resilience in his blood – Sheffield were clearly fearing the worst and played like it. Passes went astray, tackles were mistimed and fouls were plentiful. However, they also had ten players behind the ball at any given time and despite the low block they also employed a high press, not allowing Oxford time on the ball or a clear sight of goal.

It’s the kind of opposition that Oxford always seem to struggle against. Denied an early goal to consolidate their superiority, Oxford were forced into efforts from range or passing the ball around the edge of the Sheffield area probing for an opening that never came.

And yet, they did fashion some chances, mainly thanks to the inventiveness of Filip Krastev, the industry of Nik Prelec, or the pace of Przsemysłav Płacheta. All vital considering the way the Blades defence snuffed out any threat from Will Lankshear and denied space and time for Cameron Brannagan and Brian De Keersmaecker.

It was a familiar tale of frustration for the U’s, who were unable to make the breakthrough they occasionally threated in the first half. After the break, whatever tweaks Wilder made and whatever words he said obviously had an effect, as suddenly the visitors had a bit more of a threat about them.

As good as Oxford were in the first half, their mojo seemed to work in reverse and now it was the Blades that looked sharper. It was clear from the way that they had set up that if Sheffield were to score that would almost certainly be game over, and when Callum O’Hare found the net midway through the second half, everything went flat. Everything United fans had feared looked likely.

In desperation, Michał Helik was turned into a forward. Will Vaulks was called off the bench to take long throws like an American Football set play specialist. Greg Leigh – who I thought should have started – was called into action late on – too late – to provide an extra goal threat (and it almost worked, his shot on the turn hitting the foot of the post), while Stan Mills offered some threat from the right wing and Siriki Dembélé tried to do the same on the left.

When Mark Harris came on for Lankshear, it felt like a metaphorical towel had been thrown in and Oxford had accepted their lot. I love Sparky and will be forever grateful for his goals in the promotion season, but for whatever reason he has lost all confidence and now carries about as much goal threat as I do.

The result plunged Oxford back into the bottom three and, worse, sucked all the positivity from the previous week into a vacuum. It’s still far too early into the season to be too despondent and there are clear signs that the squad has improved from last season, but will that be enough?

With two away games on the bounce to come, at QPR and Watford, I will be looking for, at least, a sign that no further towels will be available.