'Stay Positive' says First Team Coach
First team Coach Andy Melville believes the U’s will get back to winning ways if they just stick to their guns. The U’s travel to Plymouth this weekend after a run of games where they have matched teams for long periods, but not picked up the points.
“The important thing is that we are still creating chances,” Andy told www.oufc.co.uk. “Both our last two games have been against good League Two sides and have been real battles but we have to keep working hard, stick at it and I’m sure there is a good result around the corner for us. Sometimes you have to dig deep. That little extra five per cent might not be ability, it might be the mental side of it. If things don’t go for you then you still have to get into the right positions and eventually things will go your way.”
The former Wales defender played alongside legendary goalscorers such as Ian Rush and Dean Saunders during his career, and knows how important it is for United’s forwards to relax in front of goal:
“I just don’t think players like that dwell on things. If they miss a chance or make a mistake they don’t stop getting into the right place for when the next one comes along 30 seconds later. You just have to do the right things and keep believing. But everyone is in it together, not just the forwards. People just have to concentrate that little bit harder all over the pitch, whether you are defending, putting in a cross, playing a pass or whatever. If we do that, then a result will come.”
Manager Chris Wilder talked about his players having to find something within themselves to win games, a philosophy that Andy agrees with:
“You have to be mentally strong. As a player when I was at Sunderland the first season didn’t go very well for me at all. They would read my name out and the fans used to boo! So I had to dig in really hard to get through that, and in the end they were singing my name. You talk to people and team-mates but everything you do has to be positive. The only way to get through it is to be positive and mentally strong. Our players have so much ability and we see that day in day out. We will do all we can to help them and prepare them right, then they need to be strong, stay focussed and be mentally tough as well.”
United won at Home Park in the JPT earlier in the season and will be looking for a repeat performance come Saturday afternoon:
“Plymouth have a new manager and have picked up results because they are fighting for their lives. Playing away from home might take a little bit of pressure off and allow us to play with a bit more freedom. We will go there, stay positive, and I’m sure a result is just around the corner.”
See a full preview show in Yellow Player, then hear the whole game live.