U’s boss on recent home support and not taking direct approach in stoppage time

DES Buckingham praised the support his Oxford United side received from the fans, as they made it a lively atmosphere for the final home game of the regular season.

One of the key talking points surrounding the U’s this campaign has been the noise at home games, but Friday night’s match against Stevenage certainly highlighted a united fanbase.

Balloons, banners, flags and streamers added to the sense of occasion, while the team was welcomed from the tunnel before kick-off with a roar not heard too regularly this season.

Buckingham said: “This is the Oxford United I know, and the Oxford United I knew growing up. That’s the Oxford United we want to keep here.

“We’ll try and do as much as we can on the pitch to entertain them, and if they can do what they do, hopefully for a couple more games this season, we’ll do it together.”

Buckingham was also asked about the murmurings in stoppage time, as sections of the crowd called for United to take a more direct approach in order to try and rescue three points.

“I’ve heard a lot about the style of play and the plan, and the plan’s there to be seen, and when we execute it, we execute it extremely well,” said Buckingham.

“It’s not just about doing one thing, and I’d like to think that anyone was here saw we tried to work it different ways, and probe and prod in different areas, to try and get through or around, or go over direct or on the switch.

“As long as we’ve got different ways of doing that, rather than just being predictable, that’s the key thing to that.”