In the first half of the match, Oxford and their opponents were fairly evenly matched, but Oxford frequently bypassed their midfield by utilizing their defense to switch the play to wide players Siriki Dembele and Tyler Goodrham.
Stoke seemed to have neutralized Oxford’s midfield trio of Josh McEachran, Cameron Brannagan, and El Mizouni, as they struggled to make an impact in the attacking areas.
As the match progressed, it became evident that not only were the midfield players gaining more control over the game, but Rodrigues managed to play a well-placed cross into the box, which El Mizouni capitalized on by scoring the opening goal.
While Oxford had managed to keep a clean sheet against Norwich on the opening day, they had struggled defensively in their other matches in the Championship.
The backline of Oxford, consisting of a solid back five, performed well defensively. Jamie Cumming, the goalkeeper, did not face too many threats but effectively organized the defense. Additionally, there was a return for Elliott Moore alongside Ciaron Brown in the defense.
Overall, it was a strong performance from Oxford, with their midfield and defense working together to secure a victory. As the team continues to gel, they will likely become even more formidable on the pitch.