Oxford United boss Matt Bloomfield slams Southampton tricks

Saints staff moved the stadium’s advertising boards closer to the pitch prior to kick-off, seemingly in order to prevent the threat of the U’s long throw-ins from Myles Peart-Harris and Ciaron Brown.

It is understood that United boss Bloomfield complained about the boards to officials before the game and the hosts were forced to move them further back to within the official rules, getting out tape measures to measure the distance.

“There are rules, but we’re all grown adults and there is common sense that kicks in in that moment when you start measuring things,” the 42-year-old said after the game.

Oxford United’s Stan Mills runs with the ball against Southampton (Image: Jason Dawson)

“We didn’t need it for our long throw because we could just change to Ciaron Brown. Myles has had a bit of a bad back which is why he missed last week so he wasn’t taking the long throws anyway, it was Ciaron.

“My point was, if they want to do that and look for a competitive advantage, use the soft advertising board because the hard ones had a corner that if a player fell into it, we could have been looking at – it was unlikely but you saw a couple of players fall into them today – in my opinion, it is not worth taking a risk with player welfare.

“Although there’s a small chance of something happening, there is a chance that a player fell into the advertising hoardings and hurt themselves today.

Matt Bloomfield at St Mary’s Stadium (Image: Jason Dawson)

“Football is a really important sport but these players have got families to go home to. So, to take a risk of players welfare and safety in my opinion was completely wrong.

“I don’t think I should comment any further on that. They know my opinion. To start getting measuring tapes out and getting small print and all that…in my opinion, it was not worth the risk today.”

READ MORE: Oxford United beaten 2-0 by Saints in first St Mary’s visit

During the game, two players in Saints’ James Bree and the Yellows’ Stan Mills did fall into the boards during the game but were thankfully not hurt.

Southampton’s Cyle Larin and Shea Charles scored the two early goals which saw the U’s lose their first ever visit to St Mary’s.

Oxford fall to 23rd in the Championship, only on goal difference, and are one point from safety.