Stand Up and Be Counted

Oxford United Head Coach Michael Appleton sends his side out against Mansfield Town looking to get a vital win as the U’s go into the last fifteen games of the season. 

“There are 45 points to play for and we know the job we need to do” Michael told Yellow Player earlier. “The players have started really well this week in terms of training and preparing for Mansfield on Saturday. I think we have the players here for this sort of challenge. I think they thrive under a certain amount of pressure and there is enough experience in the group to deal with it, plus we have enough quality with the younger players as well. We are aware it is going to be tough but we accept where we are. What has happened before is irrelevant, it is what happens going forward.

“We have the opportunity against the sides around us in the table and I think that’s going to be important. Mansfield will be fired up and a crucial win against Luton will have given them a lift so we have to be aware of that. But in this part of the season the focus has to be on what we have to do, not the opposition. There is a real focus among this group of players this week. We sat down on Monday and talked about what we need to do going forwards and I think we have done that very positively this week.

“I think there have been crucial periods through the season where the players have had to stand up and be counted, and they know they are going to have to do that again on Saturday and for the next fifteen games.”

See the full interview plus the thoughts of skipper Jake Wright and new arrival Giorgio Rasulo in Yellow Player right now.

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