An extract from Michael Appleton's notes that appear in the programme for the Notts County game
In the Notts County programme, Michael Appleton says:
Welcome back for our second home game of the season.
The first week of the season was eventful, to say the least. We started with a slightly frustrating draw here against Crawley who were much the happier side with the point. Credit to Mark Yates and his side who had a game plan to come and slow the game down and get men behind the ball, but I thought we managed to get through them a number of times and create chances. I certainly couldn’t see Crawley scoring so when they bundled the ball in for the opener I think it took everyone by surprise, including them!
I was more than happy with the response from the players and we hit back quickly to make it 1-1 with a good finish from Danny Hylton. From then on it just became a matter of whether we could find a winner, but on this occasion we had to settle for a draw despite dominating. There were a few strange results on that opening day so you take that result and you try and build from it.
We went to Brentford looking to get on the front foot from the very start but if I’m honest being 3-0 up after 11 minutes was way beyond our expectations. That’s a situation you rarely get in the league let alone against a side from two divisions higher so the players deserve enormous credit for the way they played that night. It was the best 45 minutes since I’ve been here and to do it in front of such a fantastic crowd was a great feeling.
The Capital One Cup is a nice distraction but it was important to go to Luton in the league on Saturday and be just as focussed. Kenilworth Road can be a very intimidating place and to come back from 2-0 down to earn a point was just as pleasing to me as the win at Brentford. Not many sides are going to do that at Luton this season and it took guts and a real togetherness to get what I thought was a deserved point in the end.
Get behind us.
Michael
You can read Michael's full notes in the match programme, available for £3 at the stadium or online from www.matchdayfix.com/oufc.