'We deserved at least five' - Sheehan reckons Oxford thumping has been on cards

Josh Sheehan believes Wanderers’ five-goal “statement” against Oxford United has been in the pipeline for a while.

After frustrating draws at Barnsley and Exeter City the Whites let themselves off the leash with an impressive TV display against a side which has been fighting for promotion itself this season.

Sheehan – who has been called up to the Wales squad for the Euro 2024 play-off against Finland, then either Estonia or Poland – said on collecting his man of the match trophy after the game.

“I think that has been coming,” he said. “The last few weeks we have been performing to those levels but we just haven’t been finishing it. Thankfully tonight everything came off for us and I think we deserved at least five.

“We were right up for it. We had to prove a point after the last few results, they haven’t gone for us. But that is a big statement and that’s us going forward.”

Thoughts turn immediately to Saturday’s game at Derby County, and an opportunity to climb back into the automatic promotion spots.

Wanderers have never won a league game at Pride Park and have not taken three points from Derby since 1981.

But with confidence brimming after their goal-laden performance against Oxford, Sheehan says the Whites will be in exactly the right frame of mind to get a result.

He added: “We are taking it game by game and getting this done now it is the big one now away to Derby on Saturday, which we had in the back of our mind. It is a big statement and we just want to continue with it.”

Sheehan will be looking to earn his sixth international cap in the play-off against Finland on March 21 in Cardiff. A win would see them through to the final, where they would face either Estonia or Poland on March 26.

Wales have qualified for the last two Euros and should they reach next summer’s tournament would be grouped with France, Netherlands and Austria in Group D.

Eoin Toal is expected to be named in the Northern Ireland squad for friendlies against Romania and Scotland, while Australia face a two-legged World Cup qualifier against Lebanon with Gethin Jones potentially involved.

Wales Under-21s face Lithuania in a Euro qualification group game and are likely to being Zac Ashworth into the squad.

Source

One of the biggest differences was that the midfielders and wing backs could pass to forwards who could find space and could control and pass the ball in tight areas. It was a joy to behold. Lets hope they can keep that standard up in the run in.