U's look to bounce back at London Road
Michael Appleton’s Oxford United head for Peterborough on Saturday looking for a positive reaction after two home defeats on the spin. Bristol Rovers and Sheffield United both left Grenoble Road with three points earlier in the week and Head Coach Michael Appleton is looking for his squad to respond in a positive fashion at London Road on Saturday.
“We will bounce back” Michael promised. “It’s not the first time it’s happened and we will go through spells when I’m in charge where we lose more than two on the bounce. If you are going to be successful you have to learn when you are beaten and know why you were beaten. We can pick the bones out of Tuesday night and even if we aren’t successful in getting into that top six this year It gives us things to think about things to try and improve for next year.
“All that has gone is an extra game. I did say we needed to win eight more games and all that has happened is it will have to happen from one less now. Games are coming thick and fast but the reality is that nothing has really changed. The task is that bit harder now but we have developed a good habit over the last couple of years that when people think things aren’t quite happening for us we pull it out of the bag.”
United were 2-1 winners over Peterborough earlier in the season and Yellow Player HD asked whether, with all that has happened since that day, Michael might have settled for the season that has followed?
“I’d have snapped your hand off” he said. “I think that was our first win and could have gone either way. You think back and it was our first win in League 1 for a long long time so to be as competitive as we have been and to have the cup runs and to get back to Wembley: I certainly would have taken it at that stage. Peterborough have some good young players and it will be a good test for both teams. “
United welcomed back Rob Hall, Kane Hemmings, Chris Maguire and Curtis Nelson after injury on Tuesday but have a doubt over one other player:
“Charlie Raglan picked up a quad injury in the warm up so he wouldn’t have been able to come on the other night. He’s a doubt and we won’t know for sure until Friday but the four lads who came into the side on Tuesday all seem to be fine.”
See the full interview plus chats with Kane Hemmings and Chris Maguire in Yellow Player HD.
Remember: Saturday’s game is ALL TICKET for United fans with none available on the day.