Oxford United boss Karl Robinson: We needed to be more ruthless - 7M sport

Oxford United boss Karl Robinson: We needed to be more ruthless



Posted Sunday, November 11, 2018 by PA

Oxford United boss Karl Robinson: We needed to be more ruthless

Oxford United boss Karl Robinson felt his team needed to be more ruthless after they were taken to an FA Cup first-round replay by League Two Forest Green Rovers after a goalless draw at the Kassam Stadium.

Forest Green had the best two opportunities of the match – but both ended in dreadful misses – from Theo Archibald in the first half and Reece Brown in the second.

And substitute George Williams also shot against the post right at the death.

But League One Oxford had much more of the game, yet could not make their possession count as the Gloucestershire side defended resolutely.

Robinson said: “We were quite dominant at times, and it was almost as though we felt we had to score the perfect goal.

“Sometimes we just needed to pull the trigger rather than take an extra touch. We needed to be a bit more ruthless.

“We should have won – but I don’t think we were very good. If we’d been better at our finishing we would have gone through.

“Yes, they will talk about the two chances they have had, but we had more shots and more crosses than them.

“But our ability, and our speed of pass today, wasn’t as good as it has been lately. There was an element of fatigue in our performance. We lacked a little bit of a cutting edge in the final third.

“And their chances came from our sloppiness. But I’d rather have a replay than be out of the competition.”

Forest Green Rovers manager Mark Cooper felt he could not have asked much more from his team.

Cooper said: “I was happy with the performance. We had two brilliant chances to win it before the end, and I don’t think anyone would have quibbled had we won it.

“We were respectful, have come to a good League One side and I don’t think we looked out of place, in my opinion.

“The players’ effort and application was fantastic, and we could have won it at the end.

“Willo’s hit the post, with the keeper stranded.

“It makes for an entertaining replay and if we play like that, we have a chance to get through.

“Let’s see who we get in the draw for the next round.”

The replay will take place at The New Lawn on Tuesday, November 20.

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