Karl Robinson: Oxford United need to know date for Crewe fixture now

Saturday's game at the Kassam Stadium was postponed due to cases of coronavirus within the visitors' ranks, with next Tuesday a possible date for the rescheduled fixture.

That may have been complicated by two more Crewe players testing positive for the virus since then, bringing the total self-isolating to four.

Next Tuesday is United's last blank midweek until November 17 and Robinson feels the postponement has already put his side at a disadvantage.

The U's head coach said: “It would be crazy if we have to play next Tuesday and put ourselves on the back foot because of somebody else’s misfortune.

“If the EFL make us play the game again it’ll certainly question people wanting to call games off if certain players aren’t fit.

“It doesn’t half open a can of worms.

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“If someone tests positive you should basically push everyone to one side, test everybody and those who are eligible to come back to training can come back.

“Then you play the game with the players you have available.

“If we all know the rules we abide by them and if someone breaks them, they pay the fine.”

United will have eight games in 25 days, starting with last night's EFL Trophy clash with Bristol Rovers, if the Crewe game is held next week.

Highlights: Oxford United 1, Bristol Rovers 1 (4-3 on pens)

And Robinson revealed the delay in setting a date was already affecting his plans for Saturday's Sky Bet League One clash at Gillingham.

He said: “You’re picking a team thinking fundamentally how you’re going to move forward.

“We could find ourselves having to play a game at a time that’s not fair, that’s the be-all and end-all."

He added: “There’s still an investigation period.

“We had to speak to the local council, because Crewe brought people with Covid-19 into Oxfordshire.

“We all know the (infection) rate is rising in this area, especially in the city of Oxford where they stayed."