PRAISE for Oxford United’s players has not been in short supply recently, but head coach Michael Appleton is keen for another group to receive their fair share of the credit.

Few clubs in the country can be quite as buoyant at the moment as the U’s, who are second in Sky Bet League Two ahead of tomorrow’s visit to Dagenham & Redbridge.

Impressive statistics are everywhere you look – nine wins in the last 12 games, just two defeats in 25 league games – with players almost taking it in turns to produce match-winning performances.

“It is some record the players can be proud of and what’s been really pleasing is after a defeat we’ve shown real mentality to go on another run,” Appleton said.

“That’s been a real strength of character from everyone, not just the players but the staff as well.

“The staff probably don’t get enough credit at times and they are the ones who have to pick up the players after a defeat and get them back on track.

“They’ve been just as good as the players.”

Appleton is supported by coaches Derek Fazackerley, Chris Allen and Wayne Brown, a sports science and medical department of Andrew Proctor, Scott Daly and John Elliott, plus video analyst Dan Bond and head of football logistics Jonty Castle.

It is a sizeable backroom for a club in the fourth tier, but it has brought an attention to detail which Appleton believes has led to a quiet transformation.

He said: “In the summer we had a good look at how we prepared for games and how we did everything.

“The players would not get any more information if they were playing in the Premier League.

“You can’t look for five things that will get you (an extra) 20 per cent, because the reality is they are going to cost too much.

“So you concentrate on the 100 little things and you’ll get a better side and better results.”

He added: “There’s a lot of trust with the staff and players.

“If we ask them to do something slightly different there’s not a fear factor of ‘oh my God, what are we doing this for?’ they embrace it.”

The detailed planning is especially important right now, with United facing a packed schedule.

Appleton said: “Today’s a great example – normally it would be a working day on how we’re going to beat Dagenham.

“We will still do that, but a lot of it will be inside, because there will be a small group who will have almost a second recovery day.

“The rest will do a longer session.”