STUART Findlay has admitted he struggled for confidence under Karl Robinson but greater clarity under Liam Manning means he is putting in better performances.

The 27-year-old centre back has started each of the four games since Manning took charge of Oxford United, helping the side to clean sheets in draws at Peterborough United and Port Vale.

Findlay has endured a difficult debut campaign with the U’s after joining in the summer for an undisclosed fee from Major League Soccer side Philadelphia Union.

READ AGAIN: Our player ratings for Oxford United’s draw at Port Vale

He said: “It’s been a very tough season, there’s been a handful of games where I think I’ve shown what my true abilities are like.

“I know it’s not enough but when the team’s fighting the way we are, down at the bottom, it is hard for individual players to come to the fore.

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“Confidence is a massive thing, it’s something that especially maybe under the old regime, I was struggling massively with.

“I think the new manager is a lot more set in the way he wants to do things, there’s a lot more control and it’s a lot more clear on what he wants from me.

“It gives me that belief and I think I’ve hopefully rewarded him with putting in a couple of better performances since he’s come in the door.”

Manning has overseen four consecutive draws since becoming head coach at United, with the latest point coming at Vale Park.

That encounter threatened to boil over at times, with Vale forward Dennis Politic shown a red card following an aerial duel with U’s defender Stephan Negru in stoppage time at the end of the second half.

Findlay believes the fight shown during that game was missing from United earlier on in the season.

He said: “It was two teams who were very passionate about wanting to win and two teams that know what it means at this stage.

“I don’t think there was any bad nature in the game, I’m the first one to happily have a fight on the park but I’ll shake hands afterwards.

“That’s part and parcel of playing football at this level.

“I enjoyed the challenge and I think winning these fights is something we’ve not done enough earlier on in the season.

“A couple of months ago, we’re probably walking away from here with a defeat.”

Findlay added: “We weren’t anywhere near the level we have been in the last few games.

“We didn’t really build on that platform but it was never going to be an easy game, they’re another team that are fighting like we are.

“We had to dig in, Easty made some amazing saves for us and that’s what he’s there for.

“We need to start to win games, we know that and we need to play better, but it’s another game unbeaten under the new manager and another clean sheet we can hopefully take into Bolton on Saturday.”

On full debutant Negru, Findlay said: “I thought Stephan did absolutely brilliantly, he’s been excellent since he came in the door.

“He’s young and hungry, he’s willing to learn and put his body in where it hurts.

“He was brilliant and I can’t speak highly enough of him, he trains really hard every day and works really hard.

“I’m glad he got his chance and that he took it.”

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About the author

To sign up to Liam’s latest Oxford United newsletter for free, click here: https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/newsletters/

Formerly the politics reporter for the Oxford Mail, Liam now covers all things Oxford United.

Liam attends the U’s home and away, as well as covering other big sports stories across the county.

His Oxford United newsletter is released every Saturday morning at 6am.