Full reaction as United claim first league win of the season
Oxford United stormed back to claim a comprehensive 3-1 win over Notts County at the Kassam Stadium last night. Goals from Callum O’Dowda, Kemar Roofe and Danny Hylton capped a great performance from the U’s whose unbeaten start to the season continues.
“It was a very exciting game even if it was disappointing to go behind like we did” Michael Appleton told Yellow Player HD afterwards. “They had two balls into our box- the goal and one which John Stead got on the end of that went past the post- and if we’d gone in at the break a goal down we would have been terribly disappointed because we created quite a few chances in the first half. “
The game hinged on the introduction of Callum O’Dowda in the first half with the winger scoring the equaliser and setting up Roofe for the second.
“Callum was magnificent” Michael said. “He deserved his opportunity. I keep saying that when substitutes come on they need to make a difference, and Callum has done that this season. I had a feeling he would have an impact tonight and he took his chance really well.”
The U’s carved out chance after chance in the second half and sharper finishing might have resulted in a far more one-sided final score.
“As pleasing as the performance was in the second half there are still things we can improve on” Michael conceded. “But if we are winning games while we are improving then that’s a good thing going forward for the rest of the season. We are five points better off than we were at this stage last season. Going into the fifth game last year with no points on the board was very difficult for all of us but there is a little bit of momentum building at the club at the minute, the win at Brentford helped with that, and the games are coming thick and fast. We have to carry that on, the players have to look after themselves over this period and we will help them with that and be ready to go again at Mansfield in the next game.”
See the full interview and relive the match with our excellent Highlights package in Yellow Player HD from midday.