Cleverley On Oxford: "We Need To Fight"

Tom Cleverley knows the Hornets will have to show their fighting qualities when they head to Oxford United in the Sky Bet Championship tomorrow (Saturday March 15, 3pm KO).

The U’s are without a win in nine and sit four points above the relegation places after their 2-1 defeat at Hull City on Wednesday, which they lost despite taking a 66th-minute lead.

Boss Gary Rowett admitted he was the harshest he has been with his players following full-time, describing himself as “angry” at his side’s performance.

“I saw his comments after the game,” Cleverley said. “They are going to be fighting.

“It’s been a difficult week for Oxford in terms of everyone else around them winning, so they’re going to be at it.

“We will need to have all our battling qualities on show, that’s for sure.

“First and foremost, what I expect from the players is that we match and surpass all the basics of football, and then show our quality after that.

“For sure we will have to really fight as they will be fighting for their lives.”

Cleverley added that he is looking forward to coming up against Rowett, who took over from Des Buckingham in December and was not in the dugout when Watford beat Oxford 1-0 at The Vic in the corresponding fixture.

“I’ve got massive respect for managers who have done it for a long time,” he said.

“Me and Gary had a little bit of an argument one time when we played Millwall – I’ve never apologised for that one!

“I don’t think a player should ever really do that with an opposition manager, so I think I’ll apologise pre-match.”

The game is the last before the final international break of the season, so the Hornets will be looking to enter a two-week hiatus from the Championship in a good place while keeping the momentum going from the 1-0 win over Swansea City on Wednesday.

“We want to back up a positive result,” Cleverley added, with his side four points shy of a play-off place.

“Barring the second half against Millwall and the second half against Swansea, I think our form has been very consistent.

“It’s another chance for us to keep that going. You don’t want to dwell on a poor performance or result for two weeks at such a key moment of our season, that’s for sure.

“I reiterate again, it’s nine finals left, starting with Saturday.”