Time to front up, says Batt

9:30am Tuesday 19th March 2013 in Sport Photograph of the Author By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458

Damian Batt sends in a cross against Chesterfield on Saturday Damian Batt sends in a cross against Chesterfield on Saturday

Damian Batt says it is up to everyone in the Oxford United squad to “become men” this week ahead of a make-or-break clash with Northampton Town this weekend.

Back-to-back wins had lifted United’s hopes of a charge into the top seven, but a 1-0 home defeat to Chesterfield on Saturday lengthened the odds once again.

It leaves them needing almost a perfect finish from the final seven games to break into the npower League Two play-offs.

As a senior player, Batt acknowledged he needed to help rally the troops, but the 28-year-old stressed the whole squad had a role to play.

He said: “It is down to the senior players, but it’s (also) down to the squad and the young players.

“They have got to really become men and put in performances, whether in training or games.”

After a run of three successive midweek games, United have a blank week to prepare for the trip to Northampton and Batt welcomed the opportunity to have several days of quality preparation.

He said: “Saturday was a big blow because any defeat is a big blow, whether you have been on a run or you’re losing games.

“We have a clear week for the players to really regroup and when it comes to next weekend we have to go out and give everything.

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“It will be a massive game and one we have got go out and win.”

The full back is one of 17 first-team players whose contracts expire at the end of the season.

Of the existing squad, only James Constable and Ryan Clarke have played more games for United than Batt.

He has yet to hear about negotiations over a new deal, but insists the priority is helping the U’s finish the campaign strongly.

“I just go out and try to play the best I can every week and give my all – that’s all I’m focused on,” he said.

THE winners of the Oxford United Ladies v Everton tie have been drawn away to Bristol Academy in the FA Women’s Cup quarter-finals.

Sunday’s fifth-round fixture at the Kassam Stadium was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

Comments(10)

The Black Prince was off-side says...
10:14am Tue 19 Mar 13

Batt has been as guilty as any one for the position we find ourselves in. He was asleep at Southend for their winning goal and consistently fails to defend his post from right wing crosses and set pieces. Against Rotherham (admittedly thanks to Wilder's tactics) he didn't know whether he was a full back or a winger. Going forward he's ok, defending he is too often a show pony.

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foxvox says...
12:35pm Tue 19 Mar 13

This time last year was make or break at Northampton, Chapman missed penalty and we broke.

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Adman says...
1:04pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Seven games left. Reckon we'll get nothing at Northampton (although wouldn't be surprised to see us edge it 1-0), 5 points from the home games with Morecambe, Wycombe and Rochdale, and 7 points from the away games at Aldershot, Dagenham and Accrington. Total 68. Final placing: around 9th. Views?

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dave from witney says...
2:47pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Every week the Mail and the club line up a couple of players to spout the same rubbish...we owe it to the fans...we know we can do better, etc. etc.., same old retorech week in week out. Lets just face it, with the present squad and manager they will never be consistent. There are too many under performers in the team coupled with a manager who has lost the dressing room.

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Roy Burton's shorts says...
3:27pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Adman wrote:
Seven games left. Reckon we'll get nothing at Northampton (although wouldn't be surprised to see us edge it 1-0), 5 points from the home games with Morecambe, Wycombe and Rochdale, and 7 points from the away games at Aldershot, Dagenham and Accrington. Total 68. Final placing: around 9th. Views?
On paper our players should absolutely see us in a play off position. But what goes on inside their heads is a different matter. With one or two exceptions (eg Whing) they don't have the mental strength. It's easy to play better when you're winning but they can't step up when things aren't going so well. Which is why our season is characterised by winning in batches and losing in batches.

Unless we have a summer clear out the most we can hope for is to dominate mid-table.

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Southstandupper says...
3:57pm Tue 19 Mar 13

I would have thought if 16-17 players are out of contract they would be doing all they can to either earn a new contract (God forbid with some of them), or get taken by other clubs ( hard to see who would want them really though). For me it shows lack of ambition, hunger and pride in wearing the yellow of Oxford. Maybe they have been told that no contracts are on offer so they don't care, maybe we can't afford (additional wages and expenses etc) to go up, and players have been told not to perform on occasion other than just to secure Div 2 football. I have no feeling one way or the other for the management, IL said money is available to add to the squad next year but maybe tell us what is really going on and what we can expect next year. I will renew my season ticket as I have for the last few decades but I expect to see a team that at least gives everything to win games and prepared spill blood for OXFORD UNITED.

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davecuddoufc says...
10:15pm Tue 19 Mar 13

I reckon the middle part of your post has got more truth about it than we'd like to know.

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adlibber says...
5:27pm Thu 21 Mar 13

The club seems to have a rota for first team players stating the bleeding obvious. Optimism only works for so long before it wears thin especially when the lows keep beating the highs. Some good points made by posters on this threada nd I agree with them. We will be a league two club next season and for that reason alone I really think Wilder needs to go along with several of his dreadful signings. New coaching team new players early season increase in crowds,get it right and fans will as always turn out.

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CoopersChris says...
7:53pm Thu 21 Mar 13

As many have already said, if the players had put in as much effort on the park, as they do spouting drivel each week, we'd be 15 points clear at the top by now. Its performances - and results - on the pitch that count.
It's been said many times before, but I do think The Kassam has become a millstone round the clubs neck, and until its able to remove itself from the current arrangement, its a vicious circle. Whilst it may be an unpalatable prospect, the answer may be to move away in the short term (as the likes of Charlton, Rotherham & Brighton have done in the past) to call Kassam's bluff, and enable to club to build its own stadium, on a smaller scale in the meantime. Personally, I'd rather see a 4 sided ground with a 7-8000 capacity nearly full each week, than a 3 sided half empty Kassam.
I know its much easier said than done, and wouldn't be without a large degree of pain, but, as Brighton and Co have shown, it is worth it in the long term. As long as the situation remains, I cant really see how things will come right??
As I just a pessimist???

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Yellowlines says...
8:01pm Thu 21 Mar 13

Some really great quotes here and very heartfelt.

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