Gary Rowett, the manager of Oxford United, believes that their position in the Championship relegation zone provides “an extra incentive” as they gear up to face Ipswich Town on Friday.
Following a five-match winless streak, Oxford currently sits in 22nd place, just one point away from safety after 17 games.
In a conversation with BBC Radio Oxford, Rowett expressed that their standing doesn’t significantly alter their mentality.
“A year ago when I joined, we were in the same situation,” he noted. “I think the players tend to avoid overthinking it. Seeing that you’re in the relegation zone can actually motivate you to escape it once again.”
He emphasized, “I don’t see it as a major negative. We’ve been performing reasonably well in our last two matches; it’s just been the circumstances of other teams winning around us that have complicated things.”
Rowett mentioned how the results of other teams have brought those above them closer as well, intensifying the competition at the bottom of the league.
“However, we don’t want to remain there; we aim to improve our situation, and the only way to do that is by winning matches.”
Rowett’s team recently played to a 1-1 draw against the high-flying Middlesbrough on Tuesday, and he isn’t overly worried about their current league standing.
“Our performances have generally been quite consistent,” he remarked. “It’s that final touch or moment of luck that has eluded us lately.”
Discussing their relegation zone status, he added, “It clarifies our objective of wanting to win games, emphasizing the importance of each match, but it doesn’t change what we do on the field.”
Challenging clash against a promotion contender
This week features three critical matches for Oxford, starting from home against Middlesbrough, followed by an away game against struggling Norwich City, and culminating in the visit of fifth-placed Ipswich.
Off the back of a goalless draw with Wrexham and a win at Hull City on Tuesday, Rowett acknowledges that Ipswich poses a significant challenge.
“Ipswich is a very strong team,” he said. “I know Kieran Mckenna fairly well, and I regard him as a talented young coach. They have a solid roster that allows them to adapt during matches.”
“The challenge remains the same for us. It’s a home game where we’ve been incredibly competitive, although we need to convert that competitiveness into victories.”
Regarding team fitness, defender Ciaron Brown, who came off after 81 minutes on Tuesday, is being assessed for readiness to play.
“He trained today, and we’ll evaluate his condition, but it’s promising that he’s back on the field,” Rowett shared. “We need to consider whether to change our team dynamic for the match, but I believe we’ve had great energy in our recent performances, and I don’t want to lose that.”