We build towards Saturday's game at the One Call Stadium
Oxford United head for Mansfield on Saturday looking to defend their unbeaten start to the season. The U’s enjoyed an entertaining 3-1 win over Notts County on Tuesday night but Head Coach Michael Appleton is not expecting his side to get carried away by that result.
“As delighted as we all were with the performance it is one game” he told Yellow Player. “It’s just three points so we’re not going to get carried away; games are coming thick and fast and football can slap you in the face at any moment so all we will do is focus on what is an important game on Saturday. We want to go there and try and improve on what we got last year when we were all disappointed to lose. Our concentration levels are going to have to be superb and we are going to have to be right at it until the 93rd or 94th minute or so. Hopefully that wins us the game.”
Defeat at the One Call Stadium last year clearly frustrated the United boss who took his anger out on the dug out...
“It was very early in my tenure and I hope I’m not in that situation on Saturday! I think there is a lot more trust between me and the players and I think that goes a long way. It will be a very different game to Tuesday but we will go there full of confidence.”
The U’s boss has interesting choices to make, with subs Patrick Hoban and Callum O’Dowda both coming on at Luton and against Notts County to change the game in United’s favour.
“I suppose that’s what you always want and they are the decisions that every manager wants to have each week because it means that people are doing their jobs. Plus you are keeping people out of the medical room, which is important. Whoever gets the nod it is up to them to take the opportunity. As we have seen so far this year if they don’t take their opportunity when they get in the team then there are players ready to come in and take it from them.”
See the whole interview plus a memorable chat with Danny Hylton and a great interview with Kemar Roofe, all in Yellow Player HD now.