Oxford United Head Coach Karl Robinson’s thoughts were with the missing fans after today’s extraordinary away win at Accrington.
The U’s picked up their first three points of the season with a 4-1 win and Karl told us:
“It was a great performance at the end of one of the most difficult seven days I have ever had as a Manager and my only disappointment is that we couldn’t share it with the fans.
“I know they were watching at home but it’s not the same for them, and games aren’t the same for us without them. The one constant thing is the support they give us. I was sent an amazing message this week from a lifelong fan who just said how much the club means to him and that he had complete faith that we would get it right despite losing the first two league games. That meant a lot to me, that someone would take time to get in touch and think of us in a week where I think the whole country has been struggling in one way or other.
“The players came in on Sunday and watched the Sunderland game then they worked very hard over the next few days to get ready for today’s game. The staff are incredible and we were excited for the game. Then Cameron Brannagan goes down with a bug and can’t train for three days. He had to have a covid test and that came back negative just as Mark Sykes and Elliott Moore went down with the same bug! Thankfully they also tested negative and Elliott was able to play but we have a long injury list right now and today was always going to be about sticking together
“But then we tried to leave the hotel for the ground and the team bus wouldn’t start! We take the protocols very seriously and there is a spray inside the bus that sends out a fine antibacterial mist, but it had got into the sensors and has alcohol in it so was saying the driver couldn’t drive! So we had to drive in our own cars and book taxis and got to the ground in the nick of time. I had to say to the referee ‘Hold on, the teamsheet will be here in time but Rob Hall is carrying it and he was in the car behind me!”
“We ended up being on time and we went through our warm up properly and then I thought we started the game really well and fully deserved the win. But I’d like to dedicate it to all the fans back home who have stuck with us and who we know would have loved to be with us.
“It’s a day I will always remember and now we move on and prepare for Crewe at home next weekend. Hopefully with a less dramatic build up.”
See Karl’s immediate post match thoughts in iFollow right now as well as an exclusive interview with Matty Taylor.