It was a game of two halves on Saturday as Oxford United let a promising first 45 minutes come to nothing after a 1-0 defeat at Cheltenham Town
“I thought in the first half we were excellent but didn’t take our chances when they came along” boss Karl Robinson told iFollow. “Their best player was the goalkeeper, yet again, but they changed tactically in the second half and we played straight into that. Because we had more space to play longer balls we played longer balls! Then when you try to get people on top of the second ball after that it opens you up on the turnaround if you lose possession.
“We have a style and will never go away from that but today we got carried away and did what other people wanted us to do rather than doing what we are good at. People shouting ‘get it forward get it forward’; when you have space to do it then it’s the easy ball, and sometimes it works, but not with 30 minutes to go because then all of a sudden you lose the ball and get done on the counter attack.
“We made one defensive mistake and the opposition capitalised on it. Their defence made a number of them and we didn’t capitalise on any.
“We were dominant in the first half and it’s hard to play that well for 90 minutes, especially away from home where the home side will come at you in the second half. But when we went 1-0 down we panicked. We stopped doing what made us good in the first half and we reverted to rush football. Going forward quicker doesn’t mean you score more goals.
“Some players have to look at themselves individually, as we all will. But where we have come from over the last two years sometimes taking a step backwards like today gives you a chance to look at a few things and come back stronger because of it. We know we have got to be better. The league table won’t look great but we have to work hard this week now and try and win the next two games at home.”
Those next two games at home are against Gillingham and Accrington Stanley. Be part of the action: book your tickets HERE