Ryan Clarke produced a goalkeeping master class to turn his season around
and expects Oxford to follow suit.
Clarke, 30, was dumped on the bench for a couple of games following a run
of four defeats, but bounced back to pull off a string of superb saves and shut
out league leaders Gillingham.
But stopper Clarke claimed the experience had just motivated him to do
better. He revealed:
"I was disappointed. It's the first time it's happened to me. The gaffer
made a decision, but I didn't spit my dummy out. I just told him I'd be working
hard so that, if and when he wanted to put me back in, I'd be ready to go. As
one of the senior pros it's up to me to set a good example as we've got quite a
young team."
And Clarke pointed to last season's Champions Swindon as an example of what
the club can still achieve. He said:
"If we want to look at any team to copy, it's probably them, even if they
are our rivals. They were in all sorts of trouble at the start, losing five out
of five, but they came good and that could happen with us."
Stuart Nelson, 31, also made a great finger tip save to deny winger Alfie
Potter as the Gills remained unbeaten away from home in six games, but he still
praised his opposite number. He said:
"He made some great saves and kept them in it because we were all over them
in the first half."
Oxford boss Chris Wilder was delighted with his team and said:
"They showed heart and desire to get something. The goalkeeper was
outstanding and he's definitely back to his best."
Gillingham Chairman Paul Scally has promised the players a trip to Spain if
they achieve promotion and manager Martin Allen joked:
"It’s another point on our total towards Benidorm. We’ve gone away from
home and dominated possession. We’ve had chances, but not taken them."
My clipping from today's paper
... and from Sunday's edition
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