DES Buckingham is delighted to see Mark Harris doing the business inside the penalty box after asking him to play more between the posts.
Harris has broadly been a centre forward who has ran the channels and led the press for Oxford United this season, but for the past four games, Buckingham has made a tactical tweak which means other players are occupying those spaces.
United’s wingers now play higher up the pitch, while two advanced midfielders offer support in the press.
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U’s head coach Buckingham said: “When I came in, he was making runs pretty much all over the front line and finding himself often outside of the box rather than in it.
“The way we’ve now tried to set the team up, you’ve got wide players occupying space and two 10s in a central area, which allows him to pretty much play that central role in the final third, and it keeps him between the posts, and show what a good finisher he is.
“If it doesn’t fall to him, we’ve got someone arriving at the back post, and at least one midfielder arriving in behind, so it gives us other ways scoring.”
“The fans were great today and I’m just pleased we were able to put on a show for them.”
— Oxford Mail OUFC (@OxfordMailOUFC) April 6, 2024
Reaction from Des Buckingham after #oufc recorded back-to-back 4-0 victorieshttps://t.co/WbPz9F8oHc
Harris’ brace in the 4-0 win at Burton Albion took him to 17 goals in all competitions this season, three shy of his 20 target with four matches of the regular season to go.
Buckingham said: “He’s getting towards his target, and we’ll try and get him past it if we can. If he continues to arrive in those positions, he’s got players around him that are creating those moments for him.
“The first goal was very calm. He had half the pitch to run into and take the keeper on.
“He’s got people like Josh Murphy on one side of him, and Owen Dale providing threats, which gives him a bit more space.
“He’s reaping the rewards of the hard work that he puts in, and those that work around him.”
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