Bloomfield hungry for continued improvement

Matt Bloomfield is delighted with his start to life at Oxford United and believes the U's have what it takes to beat the Championship drop.

Bloomfield was appointed as successor to Gary Rowett in January with the club second-bottom, three points from safety.

While they remain 23rd, the U's are now just a point from safety with seven games remaining after Bloomfield steered them to 17 points from his 15 games.

Improving the defence has been a key pillar of their improvement with just 16 goals conceded over that period after allowing 35 in their opening 24 matches.

"It's been a really intense period," Bloomfield told the BBC's 72+ EFL podcast. "It's the first opportunity we've really had to reflect on what's gone and what's coming up.

"It's been great since I've been here. We've really had a go in all the games. We've been really good defensively, kept ourselves in games, thrown some punches and got some points on the board.

"We've really evolved the way we're playing, they have been some really positive signs of improvement, particularly over the past five games.

"We're pleased with where we are at but hungry for more improvement to go and get the points we need between now and the end of the season."

While Bloomfield revealed he has not set a points target for survival, based on the unpredictable nature of the division, he said putting together a string of positive days on the training ground, and on the pitch, would be key to their survival.

"There's some good energy," he added. "The lads understand the fight and grit needed to get ourselves out of it. We got a bit of fresh energy in January to add to the experience and senior players we have got - it's a nice blend.

"When you take over mid-season it's all about results. For me it's about trying to create a team that can put as many points on the board as possible between now and the end of the season and doing it in a manner I believe is correct.

"It's all about substance."

In his fourth experience of joining a club mid-season, Bloomfield insisted: "I knew the situation walking into the job, I knew we had a lot of work to do.

"We believe we have enough in the building to do what we need to do between now and the end of the season. The only way we're going to get there is work."

Bloomfield also reflected on a 'tough couple of weeks' for the club following the death of teenage academy keeper Amelia Aplin during a match on 9 March.

"Football managers are just humans," Bloomfield said. "To meet her parents on the Monday after the tragedy happened on the Saturday and have two heartfelt and emotional home games in the following week - I have to admit I was emotionally drained by the end of the week, but my heart bleeds for her parents.

"I am a father of two daughters myself and it was heart-breaking to see her parents.

"We wanted to make sure we paid our respects in the right manner, on and off the pitch, and I think we did that. Amelia's family will be friends of our club forever."