Shaun Derry hails Jamie Mackie as Oxford move off the foot of League One

Posted Sunday, October 14, 2018 by PA

Stiker Jamie Mackie earned the praise of Oxford first-team coach Shaun Derry for his performance in the 2-0 win at fellow strugglers Plymouth which saw the U’s leapfrog their opponents in the League One table.

Mackie opened the scoring in the fourth minute – his first goal of the season – and made the second for central defender Curtis Nelson in the 74th minute.

Plymouth ended the game with 10 men after they had Yann Songo’o sent off 10 minutes from time for a second bookable offence.

Oxford’s first-team coach Shaun Derry, stepping in for boss Karl Robinson in the post-match press conference, said: “It was a big win for us.

“We handled the emotion very well and it was a collective display from the crowd – who were great – the management and the players, who put on a performance.

“I thought we managed the game really well and built on our draw at Southend last week. Now we have to build on getting four points out of six.

“Jamie Mackie was excellent all afternoon and led the line very well.

“It was great to have a fit Jamie Mackie because he’s very experienced, but he’s only been 50 or 60 per cent for most of the time.

“By his own admission he’d not had a full pre-season but he’s now finding his fitness.

“To get a second clean sheet on the bounce was great for us too. It was a very, very effective display, we played the situation and the strong wind well.”

Victory broke a run of eight games without a win for Oxford but they remain in the bottom two.

Plymouth boss Derek Adams was unhappy with his team’s second-half showing.

He said: “They were more streetwise than us, and in Jamie Mackie and Ricky Holmes had more experience in important areas.

“To lose a goal after three minutes was very frustrating. It was the perfect start for them.

“After that we had a couple of opportunities that we didn’t take, and they had a couple.

“But in the second half we didn’t look the threat that we had in the first whereas Oxford grew in confidence and they deserved the win.

“Songo’o was correctly sent off in that his second booking was correct. But I thought the booking he got in the first half should not have been a yellow card.

“The effort was there from us in the first half, but the way we played in the second half certainly wasn’t good enough. Our front three just didn’t create enough problems.”

Argyle now prop up the table with just one win in 13 games. Adams added: “We are at a difficult stage and I fully understand why our supporters are not happy.”