Millwall loss is Oxford's gain as ex boss works his magic
A read between the lines : Oxford 1-1 Bristol City
It still feels strange to recall Millwall fans on a train home from the Den lamenting the football they were seeing not so long ago.
There was a growing groundswell of opinion that the safe pair of hands that was Gary Rowett had outlived its usefulness. Many in the Lions fanbase were craving football that they thought should be more exciting.
They were not necessarily wrong to seek change. Everyone has a shelf life. But for many outside observers, it felt as though Rowett's work had not been fully appreciated.
The next man in showed that misgivings about his jettisoning might not have been misplaced. It needed the emergency return of Neil Harris to stabilise the club after the failed Joe Edwards interlude.
Rowett's latest club are very much in the camp of the appreciative. Their fans can scarcely believe how transformative his presence has been at the Kassam Stadium.
When Rowett pitched up, just before Christmas, the U's had a single win in 16 league and cup games to their name - a humble 1-0 triumph over Hull. Since then, they have gone unbeaten in nine Championship games - after today - to drift up the table away from danger.
Having just come up via the play-offs and being one of the favourites to go down, fans were very much behind Des Buckingham despite the struggles in the opening months. Few Oxford fans will be worrying about the decision to let him go now.
Under Rowett's stewardship, they trailed for the first time against Luton recently but still found a way to win.
Rowett praised the "gritty and resilient " way his side fought back. That should sound familiar to Lions fans who will recognise, whatever their feelings now, that he helped them punch above their weight.
"While it wasn't perfect or as connected as we'd have liked, we found a way and that was just as impressive," the head coach said. He is helping his new club to bed down in the higher league.
Rowett had the chance to burrow even further into the hearts of home fans this weekend because the visitors Bristol City are now overseen by former U's boss Liam Manning. They were not happy with him bailing out on them just over a year ago, so were keen to see him suffer on his return.
"Who the f is Liam Manning?" home fans chanted after Greg Leigh had put Oxford ahead after an hour.
This was another day when the U's consolidation in the Championship looked more on course than ever once City had midfielder Joe Williams sent off after half an hour for a reckless two-footed tackle.
But the Robins somehow clawed back to level the contest through Mark Sykes and held on for a point, even though they ended the game with only nine men after Ross McCrorie had collected a second yellow five minutes from time.
A missed chance it may have been but the result extended Rowett's unbeaten start at the Kassam, which the U's plan to vacate in favour of a new stadium in a couple of seasons.
Tom Bradshaw is there to help the cause these days too. Another little slice of Millwall fighting for the yellow and blue of Oxford United. He came on late, but could not alter the outcome this time.
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