MICHAEL Appleton has called on goalkeeper Sam Slocombe to bounce back after his two errors cost Oxford United victory over Mansfield Town.
Slocombe failed to connect with a punch, allowing Matt Green to nod the Stags ahead in the first half of last night’s Sky Bet League Two clash.
And, after Danny Hylton’s brace put United in control, he fumbled the ball to allow Jack Thomas to head an 89th minute equaliser for a 2-2 draw.
Head coach Appleton said Slocombe apologised to his teammates and believes his goalkeeper will respond.
He said: “It happens – I am sure he will take it on the chin.
“The only problem with a keeper making an error is that normally it does cost you a goal.
“If a midfielder or a full back makes a mistake sometimes they can get out of it, but unfortunately for us it has cost us two points.”
Slocombe spent a period on the bench earlier on in the season, but Appleton would not be drawn on whether Benji Buchel would start at Morecambe on Saturday.
“I’m not going to make those sort of decisions five minutes after the game,” he said.
“We have got two good goalkeepers who have been competitive with each other all season and have proved that when they have played the majority of the time.”
Striker Hylton broke a barren run of ten games without a goal and says United need to forget about what turned out to be a frustrating draw and concentrate on Saturday.
He added: “Sloc’s will know he could have done a little bit better, but people make mistakes.
“It’s a huge two points dropped, we are very disappointed, but there is nothing we can do about it now.”
Teenager Jonjoe Kenny was awarded man-of-the-match, but insisted it did nothing to shadow the disappointment of the result.
He said: “It’s just the worst feeling when you concede a late goal – it is gutting.”
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