Oxford United will need their fans right behind them when they go in to Tuesday night’s game at home to Fleetwood with an astonishing 13 players ruled out.
Seven positive covid tests ahead of the game at Wigan on Saturday meant the game was called off but boss Karl Robinson is backing his side to come out fighting as the look to overcome the odds at the Kassam Stadium.
“We had no choice on Saturday” he told iFollow. “We tried our best to get the game on, we really did, we did everything we could but we just couldn’t get a goalkeeper, otherwise we would have played. We only had an hour between both keepers being ruled out and the deadline to sign someone and we took that to the wire.
“But now we have 13 players out either through covid, close contact or injury. That’s a remarkable set of circumstances but you have to see it as a test and something that can really pull us even closer together. It’s a time for unity and to show what we are made of when every single thing seems to be going against you.
“Over the last 12 months we have faced things we have never faced before and will never face again, and every time it happens we adapt, embrace the challenge and I said to the players today that they have a wonderful opportunity on Tuesday night.
"Every single fan who comes through the turnstiles knows we are up against it. They know we are the underdogs and how hard it will be for us, against a team who are our bogey side.
“But if we make mistakes fans will still be behind you. If you don’t run around they will get on your back because Oxford fans always want to see effort and they know if there is a lack of passion. They know the norm when you wear the yellow shirt but we ask people to come along on Tuesday and be our extra player. If they do that we will be stronger for it. We need the fans and we will adapt and work hard for them
“It’s a game of football and we won’t lose sight of that while people are struggling with illness, but within the game we are up against it and when that happens it is time for the players to stand up and fight with the fans right behind us, so I can’t wait to be part of that.”
Oxford United need YOU. Get behind Karl and the players on Tuesday night. Tickets are available from oufctickets.co.uk or by calling 01865 337533