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FOOTBALL: Turley out to keep it clean
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| MAN ON A MISSION: Billy Turley bids for his 23rd clean sheet of the season at Ebsfleet today |
Billy Turley will be aiming for his 23rd clean sheet of the season when Oxford United end the 2007-8 season at Ebbsfleet this evening.
The Oxford United goalkeeper, who was only beaten to the player-of-the-year awards because Luke Foster had a brilliant campaign, has the best clean-sheets record in the Blue Square Premier.
He has recovered from a knock he picked up against his former club Rushden in midweek to take his place between the sticks at Stonebridge Road.
The U's are bidding for a fifth successive victory to take into the start of next season.
Said boss Darren Patterson: "On the form we're in then we'd like the season to continue, but the important thing now is to take this into next season.
"It's the end of an unsuccessful season.
"We are just above mid-table, outside the play-offs, and our aim has to be minimum of the play-offs.
"We go there in good spirits and high confidence. Ebbsfleet have had a decent season, but if we beat them we end up above them, so that's the target this week."
Craig McAllister has also recovered from the niggling injury which led to him being replaced in the second half against the Diamonds, and has returned to training.
Patterson will weigh up whether to kick-off with McAllister and 11-goal leading scorer Yemi Odubade again, or give Matt Green a start.
United have now found the net in each of their last six matches, which represents their best run of the season, but the focus through the summer will continue to be on finding the players, and the combinations, which can score consistently.
Patterson said: "It's been eight wins out of ten, and in all ten games, the only thing that has let us down has been individual errors which has cost us.
"When we lost at Torquay all of their goals came from our mistakes, and it was the same when we lost at home to Northwich.
"Nobody has really scored what I would call a 'good' goal against us.
"Defensively we have been excellent, and the clean sheets total is impressive.
"We've shown we can consistently organise and discipline a side, now I'd like to show we can consistently score goals.
"That's the hardest thing in football, but every team I've been involved in, in my short time in coaching - be it youth or reserves - has done that, and we'll be looking to score goals."
Those words in themselves are a challenge to McAllister, Green and Odubade, who will all be out to show they can lead the line next season.
Ebbsfleet's players also have a big incentive - to cement their place in the team for their club's trip to Wembley in a fortnight in the final of the FA Trophy.
Ebbsfleet Utd: (from) Cronin, Hawkins, Charles, McCarthy, Smith, Bostwick, Barrett, Long, McPhee, Akinde, Moore, Hearn, Purcell, Eribenne, Mott, MacDonald.
Oxford Utd: (from) Turley, Day, Quinn, Foster, Howard, Anaclet, Hand, Murray, Trainer, McAllister, Odubade, Green, Rose, Clarke, Hutchinson, Fisher.
7:15am Saturday 26th April 2008
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CommentPosted by: ECHO GERRY, WHEATLEY on 9:12pm Sat 26 Apr 08
After listening on BBC Radio Oxford to todays game at Ebbsfleet, I know that Billy wanted to keep a clean sheet again but his injuries in the last part of the season has seen him seriously restricted, and todays game showed this to be true. So why oh why do we not have cover in this position(albeit Matt Day is said to be the stand-by)?
After listening on BBC Radio Oxford to todays game at Ebbsfleet, I know that Billy wanted to keep a clean sheet again but his injuries in the last part of the season has seen him seriously restricted, and todays game showed this to be true. So why oh why do we not have cover in this position(albeit Matt Day is said to be the stand-by)?
Posted by: Yellow Ken, Witney on 9:18pm Sat 26 Apr 08
Full praise to Darren Patterson and Micky Lewis for turning the team around after a difficult start. The recent run of good results and 9 wins out of 11 have given us all hope for next season. Full praise too for all the genuine Oxford fans who travel home and away to give support to the team this season. Hopefully we will all be rewarded next season with promotion.
As for the anti-Patto brigade, please say something postive about the club for a change!
Full praise to Darren Patterson and Micky Lewis for turning the team around after a difficult start. The recent run of good results and 9 wins out of 11 have given us all hope for next season. Full praise too for all the genuine Oxford fans who travel home and away to give support to the team this season. Hopefully we will all be rewarded next season with promotion.
As for the anti-Patto brigade, please say something postive about the club for a change!
Posted by: Brahma Bull, Swindon on 10:24pm Sat 26 Apr 08
Am disappoitned that the season is now over after a great last few months.
I criticised Darren in the first four months but he has demonstrated that he is capable, with the support from the board, to mount a serious challenge next season.
Well done Darren and another impressive opening half today down in Sunny Sunny Fleet.
Am disappoitned that the season is now over after a great last few months.
I criticised Darren in the first four months but he has demonstrated that he is capable, with the support from the board, to mount a serious challenge next season.
Well done Darren and another impressive opening half today down in Sunny Sunny Fleet.
Posted by: Colin Harrington, Leeds on 11:32pm Sun 27 Apr 08
Is that an official response from routed anti-patto brigades? Can we get on with it now?
Clearly it's always possible to cite the downsides and we've certainly had a few this season, but surely this run finally puts paid to them and proves that it's often sensible to give a manager time to pull things round?
Oh I forget - before it gets mentioned, we've got a number of players we'll be losing, but Patto has proved adept at getting the right people in and will do again.
Next season can't come soon enough. We're top of the recent form league in this God-forsaken league. Well done lads, well done Patto.
Is that an official response from routed anti-patto brigades? Can we get on with it now?
Clearly it's always possible to cite the downsides and we've certainly had a few this season, but surely this run finally puts paid to them and proves that it's often sensible to give a manager time to pull things round?
Oh I forget - before it gets mentioned, we've got a number of players we'll be losing, but Patto has proved adept at getting the right people in and will do again.
Next season can't come soon enough. We're top of the recent form league in this God-forsaken league. Well done lads, well done Patto.
Posted by: Billy on 9:12am Mon 28 Apr 08
Patto out.
you ostirch's will see how badly we do next season.
WHERE IS GHRAHAM WESTLEY????
Smith started it patto will finish it. and thats the club we all love f*ucked.
i hope your all be happy with that!
Patto out.
you ostirch's will see how badly we do next season.
WHERE IS GHRAHAM WESTLEY????
Smith started it patto will finish it. and thats the club we all love f*ucked.
i hope your all be happy with that!
Posted by: Channing, Shipton on 12:16pm Mon 28 Apr 08
I agree with "Billy", above.
The rot which has set in cannot be stopped by anything other that a root and branch clearance of players, management and board. A few decent results against demoralised opposition (eg Ebbsfleet, for whom this was a nothing game and who were resting players for their FA Trophy match) should not detract fromt he fact that this is the case.
And we should start with Patterson.
Patterson out.
I agree with "Billy", above.
The rot which has set in cannot be stopped by anything other that a root and branch clearance of players, management and board. A few decent results against demoralised opposition (eg Ebbsfleet, for whom this was a nothing game and who were resting players for their FA Trophy match) should not detract fromt he fact that this is the case.
And we should start with Patterson.
Patterson out.
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