2000–01 Oxford United F.C. season
# 2000–01 Oxford United F.C. season

The 2000–01 season saw Oxford United compete in the Football League Second Division where they finished in 24th position with 27 points and were relegated to the Third Division. It was also Oxford's final season at the Manor Ground before moving to the Kassam Stadium.

## Season summary

Any hopes that this season might mark a turn-around after two seasons of struggle were dashed right out of the gate, with Denis Smith's second spell as manager being brought to an end in early October after the team could only win one and draw one of their first ten outings. Club veteran Mike Ford took charge for the next five matches, but could manage a return of only one point. At the end of the month, the club announced a new management structure headed up by director of football Joe Kinnear, with Dave Kemp installed as manager.

Unfortunately, the change failed to result in any real improvement in results, and Kinnear departed shortly after the turn of the year to take over as manager of relegation rivals Luton Town. Ultimately, the team's terrible defensive record (they kept only three clean sheets all season, two of which were the result of goalless draws) meant that survival never looked realistically on the cards, and they finished in bottom place, with just twenty-seven points (half of what they would have needed to survive) to their name, and a hundred goals conceded.

Though chairman Firoz Kassam had initially indicated that Kemp would be allowed to remain for the following season and attempt to rebuild the squad, fan protests and a dreadful 6–2 loss to fellow strugglers Bristol Rovers soon changed his mind, and Kemp was sacked with two games remaining; his last game in charge would ironically result in a 3–1 victory over second-bottom Swansea City. Ford stepped in as caretaker for the final two matches, before Kassam appointed Mark Wright as the manager to lead Oxford into their first fourth-tier campaign since 1965.

## Final league table

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 20 | Swindon Town | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 47 | 65 | −18 | 52 | |
| 21 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 53 | 57 | −4 | 51 | Relegated |
| 22 | Luton Town | 46 | 9 | 13 | 24 | 52 | 80 | −28 | 40 | Relegated |
| 23 | Swansea City | 46 | 8 | 13 | 25 | 47 | 73 | −26 | 37 | Relegated |
| 24 | Oxford United | 46 | 7 | 6 | 33 | 53 | 100 | −47 | 27 | Relegated |

## Results

Oxford United's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |
| - | - | - |

### Football League Second Division

| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 12 August 2000 | Peterborough United | H | 0–1 | 5,870 | |
| 2 | 19 August 2000 | Port Vale | A | 0–3 | 3,814 | |
| 3 | 26 August 2000 | Brentford | H | 0–1 | 4,756 | |
| 4 | 29 August 2000 | Walsall | A | 2–3 | 5,678 | Beauchamp (2) |
| 5 | 2 September 2000 | Cambridge United | H | 1–1 | 4,479 | Jarman |
| 6 | 8 September 2000 | Wycombe Wanderers | A | 1–3 | 5,831 | Tait |
| 7 | 13 September 2000 | Stoke City | A | 0–4 | 9,600 | |
| 8 | 16 September 2000 | Bury | H | 1–0 | 3,676 | Cook |
| 9 | 23 September 2000 | Millwall | A | 0–5 | 8,565 | |
| 10 | 30 September 2000 | Bristol City | H | 0–1 | 5,308 | |
| 11 | 8 October 2000 | Swindon Town | A | 1–2 | 7,975 | Whittingham |
| 12 | 14 October 2000 | Wrexham | H | 3–4 | 3,884 | Tait, Beauchamp, McGregor (o.g.) |
| 13 | 17 October 2000 | Luton Town | H | 0–0 | 4,537 | |
| 14 | 21 October 2000 | Rotherham United | A | 1–3 | 3,938 | Lilley |
| 15 | 24 October 2000 | Wigan Athletic | H | 0–2 | 4,030 | |
| 16 | 28 October 2000 | Reading | A | 3–4 | 16,022 | Lilley, Viveash (o.g.), Richardson |
| 17 | 4 November 2000 | Bristol Rovers | H | 0–1 | 5,407 | |
| 18 | 11 November 2000 | Swansea City | H | 2–1 | 4,892 | Beauchamp, Andrews |
| 19 | 25 November 2000 | Notts County | H | 2–3 | 4,765 | Murphy (2) |
| 20 | 2 December 2000 | Oldham Athletic | A | 2–3 | 3,986 | Gray, Innes (o.g.) |
| 21 | 16 December 2000 | Northampton Town | H | 3–1 | 4,899 | Anthrobus, Murphy, Hackett |
| 22 | 22 December 2000 | Colchester United | A | 2–3 | 3,695 | Beauchamp, Gray |
| 23 | 26 December 2000 | Bournemouth | H | 1–2 | 6,200 | Fear |
| 24 | 1 January 2001 | Brentford | A | 0–3 | 5,020 | |
| 25 | 13 January 2001 | Walsall | H | 2–1 | 5,184 | Gray (2) |
| 26 | 27 January 2001 | Colchester United | H | 0–1 | 5,064 | |
| 27 | 30 January 2001 | Peterborough United | A | 2–4 | 4,004 | Fear, Murphy |
| 28 | 10 February 2001 | Wycombe Wanderers | H | 1–2 | 5,384 | Hackett |
| 29 | 17 February 2001 | Bury | A | 1–3 | 3,320 | Beauchamp |
| 30 | 20 February 2001 | Stoke City | H | 1–1 | 4,856 | Patterson |
| 31 | 24 February 2001 | Millwall | H | 0–2 | 5,795 | |
| 32 | 3 March 2001 | Bristol City | A | 0–0 | 9,681 | |
| 33 | 6 March 2001 | Wrexham | A | 3–5 | 3,009 | Gray, Powell, Murphy |
| 34 | 10 March 2001 | Swindon Town | H | 0–2 | 7,480 | |
| 35 | 24 March 2001 | Rotherham United | H | 4–3 | 4,493 | Quinn, Omoyinmi (2), Scott |
| 36 | 27 March 2001 | Cambridge United | A | 0–1 | 3,502 | |
| 37 | 31 March 2001 | Northampton Town | A | 1–0 | 6,115 | Tait |
| 38 | 3 April 2001 | Bournemouth | A | 3–4 | 3,747 | Quinn, Gray (2) |
| 39 | 7 April 2001 | Oldham Athletic | H | 0–1 | 4,217 | |
| 40 | 10 April 2001 | Luton Town | A | 1–1 | 6,010 | Scott |
| 41 | 14 April 2001 | Wigan Athletic | A | 2–3 | 5,322 | Scott, Beauchamp |
| 42 | 17 April 2001 | Reading | H | 0–2 | 6,886 | |
| 43 | 21 April 2001 | Bristol Rovers | A | 2–6 | 7,554 | Scott, Richardson |
| 44 | 28 April 2001 | Swansea City | H | 3–1 | 4,148 | Omoyinmi, Brooks, Murphy |
| 45 | 1 May 2001 | Port Vale | H | 1–1 | 7,080 | Scott |
| 46 | 5 May 2001 | Notts County | A | 1–2 | 5,513 | Folland |

### FA Cup

| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| R1 | 18 November 2000 | Macclesfield Town | A | 1–0 | 2,141 | Gray |
| R2 | 9 December 2000 | Chester City | A | 2–3 | 2,798 | Gray, Murphy |

### Football League Cup

| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| R1 1st leg | 22 August 2000 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 1–0 | 9,399 | Murphy |
| R1 2nd leg | 5 September 2000 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 1–3 | 4,676 | Shepheard |

### Football League Trophy

| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| R1 | 5 December 2000 | Brentford | A | 1–4 | 1,517 | Anthrobus |

## Squad statistics

| No. | Pos. | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| No. | Pos. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | Richard Knight | 33 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | John Robertson | 37(3) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 41(3) | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Paul Powell | 15(5) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16(5) | 1 |
| 4 | MF | Peter Fear | 14(6) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16(6) | 2 |
| 5 | DF | Jon Richardson | 41 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 2 |
| 6 | DF | Ian McGuckin | 6(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6(1) | 0 |
| 7 | MF | Matt Murphy | 37(3) | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1(1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 41(4) | 8 |
| 8 | MF | Paul Tait | 22(4) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24(4) | 3 |
| 9 | FW | Steve Anthrobus | 13(6) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0(1) | 1 | 16(7) | 2 |
| 10 | FW | Andy Scott | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | Derek Lilley | 15(4) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16(6) | 0 |
| 11 | MF | Joey Beauchamp | 32(11) | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 36(12) | 7 |
| 12 | FW | Jamie Cook | 4(5) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4(5) | 1 |
| 13 | GK | Hubert Busby | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 |
| 13 | GK | Neil Cutler | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | Emmanuel Omoyinmi | 16(8) | 3 | 0(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19(9) | 3 |
| 15 | MF | Simon Weatherstone | 6(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6(1) | 0 |
| 16 | MF | Rob Folland | 1(4) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(6) | 1 |
| 17 | DF | Jon Shepheard | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | DF | Chris Hackett | 10(6) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 11(6) | 2 |
| 19 | DF | Lee Jarman | 15(6) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19(6) | 1 |
| 20 | GK | Phil Wilson | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 |
| 21 | MF | Jordan Holder | 0(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(2) | 0 |
| 21 | DF | Neil McGowan | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | Wayne Hatswell | 26(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27(1) | 0 |
| 22 | DF | Mickey Lewis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | DF | Ross Weatherstone | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 24 | GK | Jimmy Glass | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 24 | FW | Guy Whittingham | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 25 | FW | Phil Gray | 21(2) | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24(2) | 9 |
| 25 | FW | Ben Abbey | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | DF | Simon King | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | Dean Whitehead | 16(4) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18(5) | 0 |
| 28 | DF | Sam Ricketts | 13(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14(1) | 0 |
| 29 | FW | Leon Mike | 1(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(2) | 0 |
| 29 | MF | Keith Andrews | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| 30 | DF | Mike Ford | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 31 | FW | Jamie Brooks | 3(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3(1) | 1 |
| 32 | FW | Leon Mike | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | DF | Garry Monk | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 33 | DF | Andy Linighan | 12(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14(1) | 0 |
| 34 | MF | Rob Quinn | 12(1) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12(1) | 2 |
| 34 | DF | Keith Brown | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 35 | DF | Darren Patterson | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 |
