THE personality of players has counted as much towards Oxford United’s recent upturn in form as their ability, according to head coach Michael Appleton.

Spirits are high in the camp after collecting eight points from the last four games.

As far as runs go it is not much to shout about, but victory at home to Plymouth Argyle tomorrow would make it United’s best sequence of the season.

It has come just in time for a side which was teetering on the brink of being sucked into a drawn-out relegation fight.

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The battle has not yet been won, but Appleton has sensed a change in mentality, as shown in last weekend’s 1-0 win at Bury.

“I think we have more resolve about us as a group and that comes from personalities,” he said.

“That has been probably the biggest lesson for me this year as a young manager in terms of getting that balance right between the player and the personality.”

That conclusion means when the club consider signing a player, they put far more emphasis on the player’s character than they did six months ago.

It boils down to whether they can handle the demands of playing for United, especially at the Kassam Stadium.

Successive squads have struggled to fulfil their potential on home turf, where United have lost more games (six) than they have won (five) this season.

It is an observation which should chime with many supporters, who will have seen players perform well before and after their spell at the club, but wilt in a yellow shirt.

Appleton said: “We’ve got 24 teams in our division and I suppose the expectation levels at Oxford are different to what they are at the majority of teams in this division.

“That’s from history, rather than more recent times.

“When you come and play in that environment you’ve got to be able to deal with it.

“I had it in a completely different scenario as a kid at Man United.

“Playing for them is not the same as playing, with the greatest respect, for West Brom, Aston Villa or Everton.

“They’re big clubs, but it’s different, you’ve got to take in so many factors other than just playing the 90 minutes.

“I feel that’s the same for us and some others in this division and you’ve got to be able to cope with that.

“I think we’re starting to recruit the right type of personalities and people who can deal with that.”

One example is Alex MacDonald, who has been a big hit since signing from Burton Albion last month.

The U’s boss said: “We thought he was one of the better wide players in the division and playing in a side that was doing ever so well.

“He’s got great qualities on the field, but he’s got a fantastic personality and great strengths off the field, which has helped us.”