MICHAEL APPLETON COLUMN

As I said in my last column, now that we’re safe and our future’s secure in the division, I’ve been able to try out a few new things.

Those of you who went to the AFC Wimbledon and Northampton Town games will have noticed some personnel changes, and overall I’ve been happy with what I’ve seen, and impressed by the players that have come in.

The Wimbledon match last Saturday wasn’t one for the purists – it actually reminded a lot of the games associated with the Crazy Gang of old.

It was combative, there wasn’t much space to play, and the ball seemed to spend a heck of a lot of time in the air.

They made it difficult for us to play our natural game, but when we did, particularly in the first half, we looked dangerous.

United

The problem was we just didn’t get on the ball enough, and at times, weren’t composed enough when we had it. What really pleased me about the performance was that we stood up to them, and didn’t let them bully us.

Earlier on in the season, I’m not sure that would have the case, and we’re going to have to keep that steely side to our game if we’re going to get out of League Two next season.

For me, our stand-out players on the day were Jake Wright and Johnny Mullins.

There were times when we were really under the cosh and had to deal with some sustained aerial bombardments, but the pair of them stood firm, held everything together, and organised the team brilliantly.

What’s more, I thought they played Adebayo Akinfenwa perfectly.

Akinfenwa is known as ‘the beast’ and it’s not difficult to see why.

He looks more like an American Football blocker than a footballer, has incredible strength, but he can play too.

He’s deceptive in that sense.

Johnny and Jake stepped in to win the ball when they could, but didn’t commit themselves when the time wasn’t right and allow him to out-muscle them.

Tuesday’s game against Northampton was a wholly different proposition.

They came to The Kassam with an outside chance of making the play-offs and started the game very quickly.

On the balance of play they deserved their half time lead – even if the goal they scored was slightly fortuitous - but again, what really encouraged me was the way we responded.

We pushed them back after the break, moved the ball a lot quicker and got on top – the difficulty was actually breaking them down.

But, we kept plugging away and deserved our equaliser when it finally came in injury time.

We’re now five games unbeaten and are on another good run, and I want to carry that through to the end of the season.

It’s important we finish on a real high, starting at Tranmere today.

They’re at the foot of the table and fighting for their lives, but there’s no room for sentiment, we’re heading to the Wirral to take all three points.

Next Saturday we have our final home league game of the season against Cambridge United, and like the chairman and the chief executive, I’m hoping for another bumper crowd.

The game against York City at the start of the month was watched by more than 9,000 people – a tremendous attendance for League Two, and it just goes to show the potential this club has.

We know that if we hit the ground running next season, get that winning habit, and play good football, people will come and watch us.

On that point, now feels like the right time to thank the fans for their unwavering support this season.

Yes, it’s been something of a turbulent campaign, but they’ve stuck by us, got behind the team and really made a difference.

Many have also travelled the length and breadth of the country to watch us, spending their hard-earned cash to do so, and it really is appreciated.

The fans’ support means a hell of a lot to the players, and to me, and as a group, we’re desperate to get it right.

We want to give you, the people of Oxford, a team to be truly proud of next season.