Head Coach looks back on a job well done at the Valley
Oxford United put Saturday's FA Cup defeat at Middlesbrough behind them with a determined display to record the club's first league win at Charlton on Tuesday night.
After the game, Head Coach Michael Appleton told Yellow Player HD:
"I think that was one of the most important wins of the season, especially after our exploits on Saturday. There was a lot of effort that was put into that second-half performance on Saturday and I think at times tonight you could probably tell that was the case. I’m just delighted with their attitude and the way they stuck to task. Going a goal ahead certainly helped us because it gave us a platform to work from."
The only goal of the game came from a thunderous strike by Conor McAleny, who joined Oxford on loan from Everton on transfer deadline and who was making his first start in United colours.
"Conor’s a very good player," Appleton said. "He can play left side, right side, behind the striker. He’s going to be great for us between now and the end of the season. That’s his first start in about three-and-a-half weeks when he last played for Everton U23s. I’m delighted he got through as much as he did."
Appleton knows that the games are coming thick and fast and each one gets increasingly important as the finishing line comes in sight. Next up for United is a trip to Chesterfield where the U's will hope to follow up Tuesday night's win at the Valley.
"The Chesterfield game is even bigger," Appleton claimed. "They’ve had a fantastic result at Millwall, getting a point, so they’re obviously going to be in decent spirits and with it being their home game they’re going to want to get their first win under their new manager, so we’re mindful of that and we don’t want to be a side that gets turned over and we want to put in a resolute performance."
See the whole interview in Yellow Player HD.
Read the official match report from the Charlton game HERE.