A POOR start to the season has left some to worry about whether Oxford United need a Plan B.

But for head coach Michael Appleton, the opposite is true – the time for concern will be when he changes tack.

United’s bold approach may have won more admirers than matches so far this season, but ahead of Newport County’s visit tomorrow there is no intention of altering the gameplan.

“I’ve got a strong philosophy with how I want to play things,” Appleton said.

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“I know I’ll get stick when results aren’t as good as we want.

“But I’m prepared to take that stick, at the end of the day that’s why I do it, but it won’t change my beliefs.

“The minute we’re in trouble – and you can quote me as much as you want – is when I start changing my beliefs.

“That’s when we’re in serious trouble because that’s a sign of pressure and where do we turn to next.

“I think we’re a million miles from that, I really do.

“We’re in control of so many things, but at the minute as a group it’s not happening for us in front of goal.

“It’s as simple as that. It has to change and I want it to change quickly, but I have a lot of belief in the players that it will.”

Tomorrow’s visitors offer a reminder that United’s struggle for results pre-date the start of this campaign.

Their last meeting, in February, saw Newport win 3-2 at Rodney Parade.

The U’s sat third in the table, but the defeat was the beginning of the end for their promotion hopes.

It kicked off a slump in results which has seen them win just three times in 25 league games.

The 16th defeat in that sequence came at Luton Town last weekend, after which Appleton admitted it was taking longer than expected to improve results.

The 2-0 loss at Kenilworth Road made him reflect that part of the problem may lie in a hangover from last season, before he took charge.

“I said on the bus last week to a few of the staff ‘is it a little bit more deep-rooted with what happened last year?’,” he said.

“But we don’t want to make excuses and I certainly won’t be using that as an excuse.”

Despite the wait for victories, the 38-year-old remains proud of the way his side have performed.

But Appleton admits he would love to have the luxury of being able to enjoy a Saturday night.

“I want to be watching Match of the Day with a smile on my face rather than being a grumpy old man,” he said.

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