"We'll need to be resilient" warns Appleton
Oxford United hope to have Patrick Hoban available again as they head for Tranmere Rovers on Saturday.
Rovers are fighting for their lives at the foot of the table but United will go there looking to end the season on a high after making it five games unbeaten with a draw against Northampton in midweek.
“I have been pleased with the players’ resilience over the last five or six games” Head Coach Michael Appleton told Yellow Player. “The last couple of games we haven’t played well in patches; in the first half on Tuesday night we were poor and we know that, but I was delighted with the reaction in the second.”
The U’s may well need to show that resilience again against Mickey Adams’ Rovers on Saturday.
“The game is vitally important for Tranmere who go into the game knowing their League Two status is under threat” Michael said “I’m sure there will be a big crowd and it will be a hostile environment for us but the players thrive on that. Tranmere will come right at us in the first twenty minutes I’m sure but we have to be ready for that.”
The U’s are hopeful that Irish striker Hoban will be fit after sitting out Tuesday night’s game after limping off in the first half at Wimbledon last Saturday.
“Patrick should be available” Michael told us. “It was a dead leg but he trained today and we hope will be OK. George Baldock is fifty/50 and Andy Whing is still a little bit sore so we will wait and see on those two. But players have come into the side in their place and done well so we have decent competition and want to end the season in a positive manner.”
See the full interview plus a great Preview Show featuring Patrick Hoban and Sam Long, only in Yellow Player