Karl Robinson: Oxford simply not good enough

Posted Sunday, September 08, 2019 by PA

Oxford boss Karl Robinson concedes his side left Fleetwood with no points because they simply were not good enough in their 2-1 defeat.

Paddy Madden opened the scoring for Town in the 15th minute before Elliot Moore levelled in the 33rd minute.

Town defender Peter Clarke clinched the points in the 79th minute to make it nine wins for Fleetwood in their last 11 games against the U’s in the league.

Though Robinson was not having talk of a curse.

He said: “We cannot talk about curses because we know we were not good enough today.

“It is a very strange one but I will not use it as an excuse as to why we have not performed.”

It leaves his team with five points and 20th in the League One table but Robinson is not looking at that table.

He said: “I don’t look at the table no matter if you are doing well or not doing well. It is not something I take note off.

“I know for a fact when we are not doing well enough. I know when we are playing well.

“I know when I have to protect them and when I don’t. I know when I have to take the blame and when I don’t.

“The league table does not tell me that. I’ve been here long enough to know to understand the performance was not good enough today.

“It was one of those away performance that looked strong but without what you’ve seen of us over the first six or seven weeks of the season.

“We have some big games coming up now. We need to make sure we prepare properly.”

Barton praised his striker Madden for making it six goals in eight games.

He said: “He has six for the season already.

“The challenge for Pad is is to keep posting, keep scoring the goals.

“You know if you have Paddy Madden in your side that there is a chance he will unlock a defence with his movement, his energy, his knowledge in the box.

“He just knows where to be.

“Most strikers there might have been disappointed the shot has hit the post, but he is onside, alive and got the goal.

“The most pleasing thing for me is that I still think this team is capable of so much more.”