Oxford United’s Sam Long on chasing in relegation fight

The Yellows have seven games left to secure Championship survival, starting with the hosting of Hull City on Good Friday, and currently sit 23rd in the league but just one point from safety.

Last season saw Oxford pull away from the bottom three slightly earlier in the campaign as they secured big wins over Sunderland and Sheffield United to fend of those beneath them in the table.

This year however, Matt Bloomfield’s men must keep pace with those sides above them and attempt to jump out of the relegation zone.

“We’re the ones now chasing rather than being chased and it is a different feeling,” Long said prior to Friday’s game against Hull.

Oxford United’s Sam Long runs away from Southampton’s Samuel Edozie[ (Image: Jason Dawson)

“It is probably a little bit easier because obviously you’re not looking behind you, you’re looking in front and you know what you’ve got to do so you’re more concentrating on yourselves rather than other people.

“I think the experience from last year, being able to get some big results towards the end of the year and really dig in, I think will stand us in good stead and hopefully we can do the same.

“I don’t think anyone would have probably expected us to go three games winning and especially in the games that we did win away from home as well.

Sam Long and Ben Nelson celebrate against Sunderland last season (Image: Oxford United)

“I think last year it was a talking point that we weren’t very good away from home and we needed to improve that this year and I think we have done that this year.

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“So actually, going into those sort of games that we do have away from home, I think we can go into that with a lot of confidence but our focus at the moment is on tomorrow and we’ll be fully focused on trying to get the three points against Hull.”

Right back Long signed a new contract this week, remaining at the club he has spent his entire career at.

The 31-year-old has spent his entire 14-year senior career with the club (Image: Oxford United)

The 31-year-old has risen up the leagues with the club since the days in League Two and few would have expected the defender to still be a staple of the team in the second tier.

“I’ve proved people wrong along the way but the main thing is I’ve always stayed true to what I believe in and what I think is right and that’s obviously got me to where I am now and I’ll never change that,” Long declared.

“If anyone’s entitled to their own opinion, whether that’s good or bad, that’s good for them but I just focus on what I can affect and what’s important to me.”