Oxford united FC
Jamie Cumming discusses Oxford United relegation situation
The U’s sit 22nd in the second tier and six points from safety with two games remaining, meaning they are banking on the misfortune of other clubs to keep them in the league as they prepare to face Sheffield Wednesday today.
Cumming has been Oxford’s number one choice keeper for two-and-a-half years since initially joining on loan from Premier League giants Chelsea.
The 26-year-old helped The Yellows to promotion from League One and to Championship survival last season and has been brutally honest in his assessment of his side’s fortunes this season.
Oxford could be officially relegated before kick-off today if rivals Charlton Athletic get a result against Hull City, or West Brom win against Ipswich in one of the early kick-offs.
“We kind of put ourselves in that situation,” Cumming admitted.
“All we can do now is focus on our game on the weekend. It’s probably a good thing that we’ll know beforehand and if there’s odds to go our way, then we’ll give our all to take it to the last day.
“With this group it’s never been a lack of trying. We’ll always give our all every game. I think ultimately, a few too many times we’ve been on the wrong side of fine margins.
“It’s a brutal league, it’s got a lot harder this year with the teams coming up.
“If you look at our XI on paper compared to last season, you’d probably say overall it has improved. [But] so has everyone else and ultimately the game does come down to moments.
“You can talk about tactics, all of that, but if over and over again…when they get a chance, they score, and we’re not taking our chances; you make it tough for yourself.
“It’s just frustrating more than anything because I feel like we’ve got enough in the building, or we’ve had enough in the building, to not be in the situation but we are where we are so we’ve really got to dig in now and put a performance on on the weekend.
“If we can take it to the last day, I think the whole mood, everything changes again, everyone believes again.
“Fingers crossed those results go our way on Saturday afternoon and there’ll be a buzz in the stadium.
“If we get ahead in the game, the momentum will start to gather. Take it to the last day. I think anything can happen and that’s what we’ll look to do.”
The U’s are currently in 22nd and six points from safety, Charlton Athletic currently hovering above them.
This week’s results saw Blackburn Rovers secure safety with a 3-1 win away at Sheffield United.
Thankfully for Matt Bloomfield’s side, Charlton lost 2-1 to Ipswich Town, meaning Oxford still have a chance of staving off relegation with only two games of the season remaining.
The Yellows have no choice but to win their remaining games, against Sheffield Wednesday and Millwall, respectively, whilst banking on the Addicks to lose both of theirs, against Hull City and Swansea City.
These results would likely see United overtake Charlton on goal difference – Oxford are currently two behind Nathan Jones’ side – and secure second-tier survival by the skin of their teeth.
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However, The U’s could already be relegated come their three o’clock kick-off on Saturday should Charlton beat Hull in their lunchtime kick-off.
Meanwhile, West Bromwich Albion, whilst currently safe, are still waiting on a verdict regarding their alleged breach of the EFL’s profit and sustainability regulations.
A potential points deduction could be on the way for the Baggies, raising question marks over their situation.
A two-point deduction, for example, would leave them on the same points as Charlton and vulnerable to being overtaken by The U’s should they lose their final two games and Oxford win both of theirs by a comfortable margin.
The U’s have lost their last two games 1-0 against Derby County and Wrexham, respectively, leaving them 22nd in the league and six points from safety.
Results elsewhere mean that Oxford now have to rely on Charlton Athletic, who are one place above them, to lose both their remaining fixtures whilst Bloomfield’s men must win their pair of matches.
“Let’s not be stupid,” the Yellows boss declared.
“I knew what was going on elsewhere. It’s something natural. You have WhatsApps coming through on your phone.”
On Wednesday night in the Championship, Charlton were defeated by Ipswich Town whilst Blackburn Rovers beat Sheffield United.
Rovers’ win meant that The U’s could have been sent down that evening, but Charlton’s failure to rescue anything from their game meant that Oxford still have a glimmer of hope.
“I was watching Middlesbrough-Sheffield Wednesday because I have to focus on the game Saturday afternoon,” Bloomfield confessed.
“As a football club, we know we’re relying on what happens elsewhere, but we have to be in control of our actions. Our actions have to be focusing on winning the game on Saturday afternoon.
“We’re still alive, so we have to win the game on Saturday. That’s what it comes down to.
“You have to win and you have to hope that things go through elsewhere. That’s the position we’re in right now.
“The fact we’re still in it with two games to go, we want to take it to the last game.
“Because the players, the supporters, deserve the opportunity to still be in the Championship next season.
“We’ve been, in my opinion, very close in the last two games. In two games, there’s not been a huge amount between either team. In both games, we’ve had opportunities ourselves.
“Our opponents have taken two, one in each game. We haven’t.
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“Whatever the scenario, we have to finish on a good note, in my opinion. We have to make sure that we attack the game.
“Whatever is going on elsewhere, we have to make sure that we play properly.”
United face a Wednesday team on Saturday who, despite their season-long struggles, have taken points off Charlton, Leicester City, and Coventry City in their last four matches.
“They’re a good team. I think you’ve seen just a gradual improvement over the whole season.
“There’s now a cohesion about them. There’s an understanding. They know exactly how they want to play.
“We’re going to have a stern test on Saturday afternoon.
“We have to make sure we’re ready because it’s far from a guarantee.”
Josh Windass scored for the visitors in the first half before The U’s piled on the pressure on in the second, but it was too little, too late.
Yellows defender Ciaron Brown was the subject of a penalty claim during the match which saw his whole shirt pulled off in the box, the referee opting not too give a foul.
“Well, if someone pulling someone’s shirt off their back isn’t shirt pulling, I don’t know what is,” Bloomfield confessed.
“I’ll be honest with you, the last few games [at the Kassam], especially in the second half, we saw it with Watford. The lad’s getting rugby tackled and it’s just normal behaviour now.
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“I just don’t know where the rules are for corners and defending in the box anymore. It just feels like anything goes these days.
“But in that instant, if pulling someone’s shirt off their back isn’t shirt pulling, then I’m kind of not sure how much more you can show it.”
A penalty decision would have given United a chance to rescue at least a point from the game as they head into the final two Championship games in 22nd and five points adrift of safety.
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