Oxford United look to set the record straight on Saturday after losing for just the second time in 15 games on Tuesday.
A rare home defeat for the U’s allowed Tranmere Rovers to claim a place at Wembley in the final of the Papa John’s Trophy, leaving boss Karl Robinson to ask for a reaction from his players at Portman Road:
“We go there in good form despite losing on Tuesday night” he said. “We have just been watching the chances back against Tranmere and there were a lot of them. We didn’t play well but we played well enough to win if we had been that bit more clinical. We have the players to create and take chances and it was just a massively frustrating game for all of us.
“But we have to bounce back straight away. There are eleven weeks left and we have 20 games. That will fly past because it is so condensed but we are one point off that top six and we still have a wonderful opportunity. No game is ever easy and we have to make sure we are right for every single game we have left now.”
United won at Ipswich last season, a key victory en route to the play-offs, but that result has little bearing according to Karl:
“We got the win, and it was important but they missed a sitter before our goal and three or four more really good chances” he said. “So everyone talks about a great performance but if one of those go in then it’s very different.”
United should be boosted by the return of forward Elliot Lee who missed Tuesday’s game through injury:
“Elliot joined in training today and will be available” Karl confirmed “ and we have one or two other options available. Losing on Tuesday hurt everyone, whether they started, came on or missed the game but I have seen a positive reaction in training and a little bit of maybe that extra motivation to set the record straight on Saturday.”
See the full interview in iFollow or a shorter version on the official You Tube channel.