Oxford United came away from Fratton Park with a point after Kyle Joseph’s terrific goal gave them a 1-1 draw at Portsmouth last night.
A red card for Billy Bodin, United’s second sending-off in consecutive games, forced the ten men in to a rearguard action in the second half but there was no doubting the commitment, as Boss Karl Robinson told iFollow:
“I’m finding it hard at the moment” he said. “My players give everything all the time. I love them and they love playing for Oxford United. In the last two games we have been undone by two decisions going against us. Billy Bodin’s second yellow card was stupid and he knows that, but his first one clearly wasn’t a booking with the tackles that were going on in the first half. It was a bit silly but Billy has given me everything since he came back into the team.”
Karl was also shown a yellow card and is facing a touchline ban:
“If I have to get booked every week to fight for these players then I’ll do it” he said. “The fans behind the goal were magnificent tonight, and on Saturday after the game. We have performed so well over the last couple of years, been in the play-offs, been leading goalscorers. But for different reasons we find ourselves in a difficult moment right now.
“Those moments challenge you as an individual and as a professional. We have taken one point from two games when we should have had more but the fans are there giving us fantastic support every week. They are the constant and the important people, so we have to stay positive and we will travel up to Bolton and fight for everything again for them.
“It’s hard at the moment but we have to go again Saturday. It’s a hard week when we are decimated and without players, and that’s nobody’s fault. I see the players every day and see the pain, but the one thing we will do, we will fight like hell for everything. “
See the whole interview plus extended highlights in iFollow.