Oxford United should have beaten Hull City, Bloomfield says

The U’s drew 1-1 on Good Friday, Cameron Brannagan scoring again from the penalty spot to cancel out Mo Belloumi’s fourth-minute opener.

Oxford created a whopping 3.44 expected goals, creating a number of good chances, none more so than an agonising miss at the back post from Welsh striker Harris in stoppage time.

When asked if the Yellows should have beaten the Tigers, Bloomfield replied: “Yes.”

Harris was sliding at the to meet Stan Mills’ cross late on which almost won the game for the U’s.

“It looked like he was just stretching to get there, whether he was under control of it or not, I’m not sure,” the United boss continued.

“I thought he added real energy to us when we needed it.

“Jamie Donley was just tiring, obviously he had a busy week and I thought Sparky was excellent.

“I thought we were very good, created enough opportunities to win the game.

“It’s not easy to play against Hull and come back from a goal down either, so to keep going and get ourselves back in the game, there’s lots to be pleased with and positive about.”

The Yellows conceded early on similarly to in their last game, a 2-0 defeat at Southampton.

“Really disappointed to go 1-0 down and we have to look at that, but the response from the players to go and create the opportunities that we did, get ourselves back in the goal with the penalty.

“It was so close.

“If we’d have got the win it would have been a very good day.”

Oxford played some neat football at times against the Tigers, Jamie Donley often at the heart of things.

Amidst the scrap of a relegation battle, the Bloomfield is keen to keep the team enjoying their football.

“We’re in a situation that everyone keeps telling me is every game worth six points and cup finals and all the rest of it.

“But I want the boys to go and enjoy their football and to put on a performance that the crowd enjoy.

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“The only way we’re going to win games is to create opportunities and you can’t do that if you’re too tense.

“It’s also about trying to relax them to play some good football and I thought we played some real good stuff today.”

The U’s remain in 23rd after the point, with Leicester still above on goal difference and next opponents Portsmouth one point away in 21st.