Chris Wilder has reminded his Oxford United players that they have to do the horrible things in football to be successful, as well as playing pretty football.
It follows their 3-1 defeat at Lincoln on Tuesday night, a second successive League Two defeat which has knocked their hopes of reaching the play-offs.
Poor defending played a major part in all three Lincoln goals, but it was also noticeable that Lincoln, tigerish in the tackle, won a lot of the 50-50 balls.
Wilder said: “We’re getting carried away with different opposition managers saying we’re a real good side. Real good sides win.
“You’ve also got to do the horrible, nasty things to win games. I won’t accept being a good, pleasing-on-the-eye side that finishes mid-table.
“Every time we seem to have a bit of pressure against us, the ball ends up in the back of the net.”
The U’s boss has kept with the same starting XI for the last three matches, but is expected to make changes for Saturday’s game at bottom club Stockport, which Oxford need to win to rekindle their promotion hopes.
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