Robinson thanks Oxford fans after they climb off foot of the table

Posted Sunday, August 26, 2018 by PA

Oxford boss Karl Robinson thanked his club’s fans after the 3-1 win over Burton which lifted the U’s off the bottom of Sky Bet League One.

Second-half strikes from James Henry and Ricky Holmes gave Oxford their first points after Burton’s Marvin Sordell had cancelled out John Mousinho’s early goal.

Robinson admitted a lot of fans might have turned after four straight defeats to start the league season, but he got huge backing from supporters, even after Sordell’s controversial equaliser.

“I want to say a big thank you to the fans,” Robinson said. “What they showed us was unbelievable.

“You need people when you’re in the mire and they showed what true supporters are all about.

“The players too have been brilliant and my chairman too. He sent me a text after our disappointing defeat on Tuesday night that gave everyone a lift.”

Gavin Whyte, signed from Crusaders in the summer, was a driving force behind Oxford’s lively second-half performance, while Ricky Holmes, sent on as a 67th minute sub, scored with his first touch.

“Ricky’s a maverick,” Robinson said. “He’s like no other player around. And what a find Whyte has been.

“Marcus Browne, James Henry and Gavin Whyte have been incredible for me. Cometh the hour, cometh the man.”

Oxford climbed above Plymouth and Shrewsbury at the bottom, and although it is very early in the season Burton’s fourth defeat in five games drops them to 21st.

“It’s not nice being in the bottom half of the table at any time,” said Albion boss Nigel Clough.

“They stepped it up in the second half and we couldn’t live with them.

“They stepped it up, got a second goal and that gave them the impetus they needed. They’ve got some very good players, creative players.

“It was a very, very disappointing second half performance from us after being right in the game at half time.

“We haven’t defended well, and we have now kept just one clean sheet in five games.

“The experience and backbone of our team is our back four. They need to improve and keep us clean sheets.”

Burton had substitute Jamie Allen sent off three minutes from the end for a second bookable offence.

“I thought the first yellow card was very harsh,” Clough said.

Burton now take on Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, and then AFC Wimbledon, with Clough saying: “We’ve got two home games to look forward to.

“As hard as it is, we need to forget the week that’s gone. Wimbledon’s the more important game for us, but let’s try and get a cup win and get some confidence.”