Spurs loan watch: Championship round up

This weekend, for the final time before the November international break, there was Championship action for Tottenham Hotspur loanees Dane Scarlett and Ashley Phillips. Scarlett's Oxford United side were in action away to Watford, whilst Phillips' Stoke City were in action at home to Millwall.

Oxford's game at Watford was selected for Sky Sports coverage, and thus was played on Friday night. Scarlett remained in the XI, meaning he had now started four of the last five Championship games for the U's.

In the first five minutes of the game, Scarlett had had four touches of the ball - 50% of the touches he had in 71 minutes against Hull City in midweek. With around ten minutes of the first period remaining, a shot from the right nearly inadvertently found the sliding Scarlett. The shot really should have been a cross for the far post, which would have almost surely found the Spurs loanee.

Twelve minutes into the second half, Scarlett was replaced by Mark Harris. The young striker had actually put in quite a good shift. His duel win rate was not ideal, but Oxford were often just lumping it aimlessly towards him, whilst playing as a lone striker against three central defenders. His hustle and work rate was clearly there, but Oxford just not able to get up the pitch enough.

It is a shame that you just know he is going to get replaced, regardless of game state and individual performance. Unsurprisingly, and not to his fault either, Harris was also unable to make a clear impact on the game, giving Watford's dominance and superiority.

This result leaves Oxford in 16th place in the Championship, with 17 points from 15 games so far.

As for Phillips, he was again named in the starting XI for Stoke, as he begins to become a real fixture in the side under Narcis Pelach. Millwall, who had Japhet Tanganga in their side, took the lead just before half-time, but Stoke scored on the hour mark to secure a point against a high flying side.

As for Phillips individually, he was taken off after 54 minutes for Michael Rose - though there has been no suggestion of an injury. In his time on the pitch, the defender recorded; 76 touches, 65/67 passes, and 4/6 long balls, showing an impressive composure on the ball.

This point leaves Stoke in 15th place in the Championship, with 19 points from 15 games, one third of the way through the season, as we head into the November international break.