OXFORD United need a change of mentality, rather than approach, to get out of the scrap at the bottom, according to Tom Newey.

The U’s have won just two of their 12 games in Sky Bet League Two and slipped back into the relegation zone following a 5-1 defeat at Cambridge United last weekend.

It has led some to question whether the existing squad can make head coach Michael Appleton’s expansive system work consistently.

But Newey, who faces added competition for his place at left back after Tareiq Holmes-Dennis signed on loan yesterday, is adamant a change in approach is not required.

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“No, I think it’s a change of mentality,” he said.

“Individually and as a team if we do concede, we have to make sure we stick together and don’t concede another one.

“We’ve shown we can do that, but at Cambridge for whatever reason we didn’t do that and got rolled over, which is very poor.

“It’s nothing to do with formations, tactics, or how we play passing football.

“It’s about having the desire and commitment to want to get to the first ball, to get to the second ball or getting your head on it.”

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