Oxford United welcome Ipswich Town to the Kassam Stadium on Tuesday night with Head Coach Karl Robinson looking for his team to harness the energy from the crowd once again in another big game at the top of League 1.
The home fans visibly lifted the players in the second half on Saturday and Karl told iFollow that the U’s need more of the same on Tuesday night.
“Saturday was the first time the fans have been tested and we didn’t do it on purpose, we were just rubbish!” he laughed. “I will take responsibility for losing because I put them out there but I am a big believer in energy and if there is a positivity in life then it gives you a grounding and lets you perform at your best. We used the crowd’s energy at the weekend and if Matty Taylor scores the one which he would usually score then who knows what might have happened.
“I have spoken quite a lot about how much we appreciate the support and how the fans back us in their thousands home and away but when you watch the game back there was nothing really in it but we found ourselves 3-0 down and then I thought the fans were unbelievable at half time. We came out to a wall of noise and the fans deserve the credit for the second half performance because the players fed off their energy.”
United now move on to face another promotion rival as Paul Lambert brings Ipswich for their first visit to the Kassam Stadium.
“They are a good team, and a magnificent football club” Karl said. “They have a fantastic way of going about things, very good players and a Manager who deals with everything in a calm way. I respect him so much and he has done a better job there than some people give him credit for. I don’t generally usually talk about the opposition too much but I do think people deserve credit for the job they are doing.
“So it will be another great test for us but Saturday hurt us and now we get a chance to put it right straight away.”
See a ten minute interview with Karl in iFollow where Shandon Baptiste joins us in the Preview Show.
More importantly: get to the Kassam Stadium to support the U’s. Tickets are still available from oufctickets and by calling 01865 337533