Rival boss questions his players' desire just months after they ended Portsmouth's promotion ambitions

A lot of soul searching has gone on within the Blues’ ranks since their cruel penalty shootout defeat at the Kassam Stadium on July 6.

Kenny Jackett’s in-form side are currently benefiting from that process as they sit in League One’s top six after a difficult start to the new season.

However, it’s fair to say that Oxford are still to recover from their own play-off disappointment after they lost to Wycombe in the subsequent final at Wembley.

Since then Robinson’s side, who were among the favourites for promotion this term, have won only five of their 16 games in all competitions.

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They’ve suffered seven league defeats in that time, too – an unenviable record that sees them sit 21st in the table – with their latest loss coming at home to Crewe on Tuesday night.

The U’s now face a trip to Wigan on Saturday before travelling back to Fratton Park on Tuesday night.

They represent two tough games.

And as Robinson seeks solutions to his team’s problems, he’s questioned his players’ efforts and pride while wearing the Oxford shirt.

Speaking to the Oxford Mail after Tuesday night defeat, the Liverpudlian said: ‘Sometimes when you’re really angry you keep yourself in that moment rather than getting yourself to that boiling point – you don’t want to do something or say something you regret, in the changing room or the media,’ he said.

‘Sometimes there are things you want to say but you have to hold that back in respect for the players.

‘Although right now I don’t think there’s enough showing pride or desire playing for the football club.’

After asking the majority of his backroom staff to leave the Kassam Stadium dressing room after the Crewe loss, Robinson went further with his criticism.

He said: ‘I just left me and three of the staff to speak to the players.

‘I feel the support staff are giving everything they possibly can to give the players what they need, but I don’t think it’s reciprocated.

‘I asked the players if it’s something we’re doing, is it something we need to change and nothing came back.’

Robinson added his players needed to be ‘more competitive’ as they approached games against Wigan, Pompey, Swindon, Hull and Ipswich.

Speaking to the U's’ media team, he said: 'We have to be more competitive.

‘Wigan are going to have a different person in charge, they've not played for 10 days wither in the League.

‘And I know Portsmouth is obviously another difficult game, they'll still be hurting from what happened to them in the play-offs.

‘Then you come back to the big ones here after the Portsmouth game - Hull and Ipswich.

‘It's relentless but only us can do something about it.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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