CAMERON Brannagan is enjoying the number of players getting on the scoresheet for Oxford United, although he admits he still puts pressure on himself to find the back of the net.
The midfielder has been a reliable source of goals for United in the past two seasons, bagging 26 in all competitions.
During the previous campaign, he was the club’s top scorer with 12 strikes in 51 games.
So far this season, Brannagan has found the net three times, however he is in good company at the summit of the U’s scoring charts.
Greg Leigh has bagged four goals since joining from Ipswich Town, while Tyler Goodrham and Mark Harris have also netted three goals.
Billy Bodin has scored twice, while six players have scored once.
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Brannagan said: “Don’t get me wrong, I want to score goals and help the team, but I don’t care if other people are scoring goals and we’re winning.
“The only thing that matters to me is if we win. I don’t care about anything else, I just want to win.
“Greg’s come in and is scoring goals. Everybody is chipping in with goals, which is perfect because you need everybody to get involved off set pieces and all other different kinds of play.
“As long as we win, that’s the most important thing.”
Brannagan praised United head coach Liam Manning for the way in which he sets the side up to attack, allowing goals to come from all over the pitch.
Eleven different players have scored for the U’s so far this season, including four defenders – Leigh, Ciaron Brown, Elliott Moore and Fin Stevens.
“The gaffer gives us that freedom to get forward and hopefully get goals, and long may it continue,” said Brannagan.
“We work every day practising different things.
“I put the pressure on myself to try and help the team, I’ll always do that, that’s just the character that I am.
“Everybody’s chipping in with goals and it’s great to see.”
Brannagan’s formidable midfield partnership with Marcus McGuane has been crucial in helping United climb to second in Sky Bet League One, although the former Liverpool man commended the entire squad being built under Manning.
“I’m enjoying playing with everybody in the side. The way we work in training is the way we play in games, and that’s the way it should be,” said Brannagan.
“The manager works us very hard all week and then come Saturday, we have to go out there and do our thing.
“Marcus has been a breath of fresh air. I could pinpoint everybody, from the back with Beads [James Beadle] all the way to Bill [Bodin] and Sparky [Harris] up top.
“Everyone’s been fantastic and now we need to build on that, and keep improving.”
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