Oxford United will look to turn four draws in a row into a win when they welcome Bolton Wanderers to the Kassam Stadium on Saturday.
That was the message from new boss Liam Manning after his side picked up a point and a clean sheet at Port Vale on Easter Monday.
“We are hard to break down and we showed some very positive elements defending our own goal” he said. ”Some of the clearances were excellent and I thought Easty made some terrific saves, so I think we have got that balance now and are hard to beat. We showed that throughout the game but then the frustration is around having the quality when we do have the ball further forward.
“There was enough there to win the game today. We got into some dangerous areas although they led to nothing but that’s down to confidence as well. In the second half in particular we got into those good areas and didn’t use them enough. Now it’s on all of us, staff and players, to step up and take responsibility and make things happen. It’s not just going to fall for us, we have to force the issue so that will be the message
“It’s a point, it’s a third unbeaten game away from home in this run of four, another clean sheet and now we need one to fall for us or we need to force the issue to go and make it happen.
“We have four home games left, with the next two games both at home. That will be important. The fans were terrific again today, like they were against Sheffield Wednesday, and we will need them again on Saturday at home to Bolton and then Portsmouth next Tuesday.
“We can take plenty of positives from today, add to them, keep progressing and add that clinical ruthless edge to our game at the top end of the pitch. Hopefully starting on Saturday.”
Get behind the U’s against Bolton. Tickets are available
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- By calling 01865 337533
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