THE company in charge of maintenance at the Kassam Stadium have defended the quality of the pitch.

Some Oxford United players and officials were extremely critical of the playing surface in their 2-0 win over Accrington Stanley, which was three days after fellow tenants London Welsh rugby club took on Grenoble.

But Steven Moore does not share the football club’s worries.

The managing director of Sportsturf, who were brought in when the groundshare was confirmed this summer, is relatively content how the pitch is performing.

He said: “For a pitch that was only decided to be shared in July, after the point work could be done to prepare it for rugby, it’s done very well indeed.

“You’ve also got to consider we have had the wettest autumn on record.

“It’s not the best pitch in the division, but it’s not the worst either – if you asked me to give a mark out of ten, I’d give it a six.”