Oxford United bowed out of the Checkatrade Trophy at the quarter final stage last night when Chelsea’s under 21 side proved just too strong in a 3-0 win.
Derek Fazackerley took charge for the first time after the departure of Pep Clotet and told iFollow “It was obviously disappointing”.
“We had periods in the game where we dominated possession but in doing that we have to have a better end product. We had a good spell at the start of the second half where we hit the post and the keeper made a good save and we had a good spell in the first as well but we didn’t get shots away or work the keeper enough. We lacked a bit of competitiveness when we were defending so those aspects of the game were disappointing.
“There were good things to take away from the game Isaac Buckley-Ricketts did well and will take confidence from the game, Malachi came on and showed what he is about: he is lively on the ball and wants to take people on. But collectively we have got to do better, we can’t kid ourselves on that.
"We were playing a side that has been expensively put together but generally speaking we just lacked a bit of competitiveness in the important areas in and around the edge of both penalty areas.
A lot of the good football we played in getting into those areas therefore goes to waste and we let ourselves down defensively a couple of times which cost us goals.
“We lost Jon Obika when he tweaked his hamstring a little bit but hopefully it’s not too serious. We do have Wes Thomas to come back and one or two others getting close as well so that will all help with selection and over the next few days we will work hard, try and build a bit of confidence and get set for the next league game which is ten days away at Charlton.”
See the full interview, extended highlights, plus the thoughts of fit again Charlie Raglan all in iFollow