Appleton writes in matchday magazine v Wycombe
Good afternoon and welcome back for what should be a great game against Wycombe Wanderers. Gareth Ainsworth is doing an excellent job just up the M40 and with a decent away following there should be a terrific atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.We have had two wins and one defeat since I last wrote any programme notes, starting with a good win over Tranmere in our last home match. I was very pleased with that performance and the attitude that the players showed. We passed the ball well, were nice and solid at the back and three points and a clean sheet put the smiles on everyone’s faces.
We have talked a lot about consistency and having got the job done against Tranmere we then travelled to Northampton looking for back to back wins for the first time this season. We made it hard for ourselves by conceding a sloppy goal inside the first five minutes but then you could see the belief and the togetherness in the players as we fought our way back into the game. Danny Hylton scored two goals in quick succession to give us a deserved lead at half time and then Alfie Potter made it 3-1 early in the second half.
I was pleased with the way we saw the game out after that. Northampton came at us but I thought we coped with that pretty well and were probably the more likely team to score; we certainly had the chances to extend our lead even further. I thought your support was fantastic that night and getting a first away win left everyone in great spirits for the long trip to Carlisle last Saturday.
I have watched that Carlisle game back a few times now and I still believe we should have won. Hylts took his goal really well from a good ball from Danny Rose and coming in at half time we looked comfortable enough. Even in the second half we defended properly and were very strong but we didn’t keep the ball up front and that invited Carlisle to launch the ball back at us. When you do that you are always wary that one good ball in could cost you but we still should have got something out of the game. Instead of which the ball bounces Carlisle’s way in the last minute and we come home empty handed.
It was a missed opportunity because three points from that game would have put us just four off the play-offs in this, the tightest of the four divisions. We have had a good week of training and everything has been built towards this afternoon, when we need to be positive and show the same form that got us those back to back wins.
I’d like to thank everyone who came with us to Carlisle. I knew the fans here were great but to see so many of you up there after a four-hour drive was unbelievable. Whether it is home or away, your support is genuinely appreciated and can make such a difference at every game, especially on days like today.
Get behind us.
Michael Appleton
You can read the full magazine online at www.matchdayfix.com/oufc