OXFORD City caretaker manager Mark Jones has issued an apology to supporters after his decision to ring the changes last week resulted in a 5-0 home defeat against Hampton & Richmond.

With City all-but safe in Vanarama National League South, Jones opted to bring some younger players into the side, resting a number of first team regulars.

But the decision backfired as they slumped to a heavy defeat.

Jones, whose side host Chelmsford City tomorrow and travel to struggling Gosport on Easter Monday, said: “I need to hold my hands up and apologise for last Saturday.

“I was trying to look at things and give fringe players an opportunity, but on the day it backfired badly.”

Jones knew he was taking a risk resting senior players, but insisted his decision was made with the future in mind.

“I’m not naive enough to think that winning the previous week, then making six changes wasn’t going to bring criticism with a result like that,” he said.

“I accept the criticism and deserved it. We got beat 5-0 and have to accept we weren’t good enough.

“What I’m looking for is a reaction to that. We have to show that we are still fighting and get some more points on the board between now and the end of the season.”

However, Jones, whose side look certain to finish comfortably in mid-table, wanted to put things into perspective after a difficult last 12 months on and off the pitch.

“I think that’s important,” he said.

“We started pre-season with an absolute tragedy with the managing director (Colin Taylor) passing away.

“There were times when we weren’t even sure that there would be a club around.

“To cope with all that’s been going on, we have competed for most of the season. The task was to stay in this league, and we’ve pretty much done that.”

City host a Chelmsford side who have lost only five games and so a tough afternoon looks to be in store.

“Conditions are going to be pretty poor in terms of a rock hard, dry and bumpy pitch,” said the City boss. “But we want to give the supporters a bit more to cheer about.

“I’ve tried to bring players in to give us competition for places. There will be changes again tomorrow and all of the players I rested will be back.

“We want to give Chelmsford a good game and we don’t want to finish the season on a low.”

Striker Mike Fondop is still struggling with an ongoing hamstring injury and is likely to miss both games.

Jones added: “We all have a responsibility to keep working hard.

“You don’t down tools before the season has finished, and don’t expect us to in the last few games.”

TOMORROW’S SQUAD

Oxford City (v Chelmsford, home): from Hill, Essuman, Grant, Davies, Henderson, Demuria, Carvalho, Fleet, Ford, Anderson, Poku, Abiola-Daramola, Furlong, Louis, Peake-Pijnen, Ngathe, Piatt, Tutton, Khawaja.