So, United’s pre-season campaign concluded this afternoon with a win over Malaga. Lovely town and a decent following too. From the three home games (didn’t go to Mansfield or Indonesia so won’t comment) I think we saw a decent progression. From a flat, disappointing performance against Bristol Rovers, to a far better but still flawed showing versus Leganes, finishing with a comprehensive and entertaining win over the Andalucians.

I realise that results and performances aren’t really what pre-season games are all about – getting minutes into legs, working on partnerships, trying to nail down formations and tactics are all far more important – but it’s still a pain to watch the side play poorly and lose and it feels nice and warm when they play well and win. Both scenarios occurred in two of the last three matches and I’d be a lot more concerned if the results had been the other way round. A steady improvement gives more cause for optimism than a steady decline.

What did we learn from the three outings? Against Rovers – Sparky’s glaring miss aside – I think we saw the areas that needed to be worked on, and it was pretty much what we would have expected. Defence is reasonably tight – the Gas scored with their only shot on target – while up front there were issues. Ole Romeny was already missing and the injury to Shemmy Placheta (forgive the lack of a slash through the l – I can’t work out how to do it on this UK keyboard) was unfortunate as he was starting to show some decent touches. Michal (slash through the l) Helik went off as a precautionary measure at half time after feeling a twinge in his hamstring after miscuing a clearance, but otherwise it was largely the team you’d expect.

Luke Harris looked like he might be a decent option in the number 10 role before he too was injured, while the other new signings – Brian de Keersmaecker and Brodie Spencer – both looked like good bits of business, while Jack Currie also impressed. All that without truly troubling the Pirates. As for the opposition, they had the right blend of decent football and thuggery to suggest they might do well in League Two (as I write, they’ve just lost 1-0 at home to Harrogate, so it shows how much I know).

The Tuesday evening game against CD Leganes was a much less violent affair (although the sides still managed to find time for a face off or two – it’s pre-season so they have to practise). In fact, at times some football threatened to break out. Tom Bradshaw gave United the lead following a Harris-like one-on-one in which he basically passed the ball to the keeper, but Leganes equalised and that was pretty much it. More game time for the players, more opportunities to see what’s what and who’s who. By the end, though, it looked like both sides were happy with the draw, to learn their lessons, and to move on. Not sure the backroom staff were too happy with the Spaniards though, as they were thoroughly disorganised, turning up without any practice balls or other essential bits of kit and expecting Oxford to provide it all for them.

Onto Malaga, from my favourite Spanish region. They seemed to be better than Leganes and threatened to breach the Oxford defence with some precise and quick passing moves, but Oxford held firm, with Jamie Cumming making a few decent saves and the defence looking very solid, despite numerous substitutions. Oxford were no slouches though and could easily have scored more than the three they did get. Matt Phillips misjudged a header from a great Stan Mills cross, Greg Leigh forced a good save from the Malaga goalie, and Tyler Goodrham hit the post twice.

The goals were all different. A clinical close-range header from Mills following a fine Cameron Brannagan cross. An actual penalty from Brannagan – unsaveable – which will be useful practice for him, not having had the opportunity to take one since the Peterborough second-leg play-off game in May 2004 (I obviously mean 2024 – it might have felt like 20 years but it wasn’t actually – thanks everyone who pointed out the error, love you all). And finally a rather bizarre finish from Elliott Moore from an Oxford corner. They all count, however they go in!

If Carlsberg (shit beer but a good strapline) did pre-season friendlies, this would be one of theirs. Three goals, plenty of other chances to score, against a decent opposition; a clean sheet and no further injuries. Interestingly, only Brannagan and Cumming played the full match, which demonstrates that, with the majority of players returning from injuries, there is decent strength in depth and plenty of options for Gary Rowett to fiddle with.

To be honest, I’m not too sure how helpful the games against the two Spanish sides were in terms of preparing for a Championship season. Neither Leganes nor Malaga looked comfortable with Oxford’s high press and both were probably less in your face than a lot of Championship sides are likely to be. Oxford had time on the ball in areas where they might not against second division opponents, although it was good to see the U’s out thinking the opposition in game time.

With a new front man through the door in Nik Prelec and the promise of two or three further additions to the squad, there are tentative grounds for optimism ahead of the new campaign, which starts next Saturday with a home game against Portsmouth. John Mousinho, Josh Murphy – bring it on!