Read Mickey's notes from the Oxford United v Cheltenham Town matchday magazine
Although Saturday was a disappointing result we come into tonight’s game against Cheltenham looking to be positive and show the right reaction.
That started on Saturday in the second half where we played a lot better than we did in the first half. Unfortunately the damage had been done in the first 45 minutes. We changed things around at half time and the players responded in the right way. We got ourselves back into the game with a well-taken goal and I thought we were on the front foot for the rest of the game. We created chances and could so easily have got something out of it but in the end paid the price for that first half.
All season long we have reacted positively whenever things have gone against us. The only time we have lost two games in a row came over the Christmas period and we then went on a run of ten games where we didn’t lose. If we can do the same thing again then you would think it will see us either in the automatic promotion places or the play-offs. Where we finish remains in our own hands.
In a way it is a blessing to be back at home on a Tuesday because there is no time for moping about. Everyone hurts after a defeat but you learn to put things behind you pretty quickly and to start looking to the next game as quickly as possible. It won’t be easy against Cheltenham tonight, as we saw at their place earlier in the season, but we will prepare properly and the players will be ready.
There were one or two little knocks on Saturday. Dave Kitson tweaked a hamstring and we will have to monitor that but we have always planned to use the squad sensibly over these two games and throughout the run-in. We are in a very fortunate position to have players coming back after injury just at the right time. Other sides will have the opposite problem right now but we are close to full strength and that will be important with so many games in a short space of time.
Finally, I wanted to thank you for the way you stuck with us on Saturday. We know there were a lot of frustrated people but you kept pushing us forward and roaring us on and that so nearly inspired us to a positive result. You make such a difference and can play a major part tonight and in the four remaining home games.
Mickey Lewis