Oxford United boss rues missed chances in Derby defeat

The U’s were beaten 1-0 at Pride Park after Jaydon Banel’s first-half strike, with Bloomfield’s men missing some big chances to get something from the game.

Yunus Konak and Mark Harris wasted the biggest two, the former shooting over with Jeon Jin-woo in space on his left and Welsh striker Harris putting Aidomo Emakhu’s cross wide in the final minute.

Myles Peart-Harris also missed a big opportunity in the Rams’ box after being played forward by Jamie Donley on the counter attack.

The defeat is a huge blow to Oxford’s Championship survival hopes with only three matches left to save their season as they remain in the relegation zone.

Oxford United head coach Matt Bloomfield (Image: Jason Dawson)

“I’ve got a mixture of emotions,” announced Bloomfield after the game.

“I’ve got disappointment at our performance [in the] first half and I’ve got frustration that we haven’t walked away with something at the end of the game.

Derby County goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom celebrates the opening goal (Image: Jason Dawson)

“We’ve created two, if not three, really good opportunities against a really good team who are pushing for a play-off position. So today was always going to be a tough game for us. But we’ve created three really good chances and I’m really frustrated that we haven’t gone and taken one and taken something from the game.

“Of course,” the 42-year-old replied when asked if these chances could be the difference between relegation and survival.

Yunus Konak plays the ball for Oxford United (Image: Jason Dawson)

“When you get opportunities you need to score from them. No team in our position is going to create loads and loads that you can’t miss.

“When they come around you’ve got to take them. In recent games we’ve been taking them, getting the results and today, unfortunately for us, disappointingly so, we didn’t take one. We’ve had some real clear-cut chances there today and we should take one.

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Oxford United striker Will Lankshear looks frustrated (Image: Jason Dawson)

“You’re coming away against a really good team who have won five in a row [at home]. There are probably more chances than what you’re expecting, clear-cut chances than what you’re expecting to make. So for us not to take one is obviously disappointing.

Oxford United’s Cameron Brannagan frustratingly converses with referee Sam Allison (Image: Jason Dawson)

“They left everything out there second half and we took a very good team to the wire and created some good opportunities. So, fair play to the lads for the way they reacted after half-time.

“We needed to get the points on the board. It hasn’t happened today, but we have to keep fighting.

“We haven’t done all this work over three months to fall away at this moment. We have to fight and fight and fight and we’ll be back on Tuesday night.”