Des Buckingham: Oxford United head coach wants players to control emotions against Reading
- Published
Oxford United are currently sixth in League One, 23 points ahead of Reading in 23rd place
Des Buckingham wants his Oxford United team to "control their emotions" when they face local rivals Reading for the first time in 19 years.
The U's sit sixth in League One, but have not scored a league goal since Buckingham's appointment in November, claiming only one point.
Reading beat Oxford United 2-0 in their last meeting, a League Cup tie in 2004.
Buckingham, 38, told BBC Radio Oxford: "You have to control emotions to help make decisions wherever you can."
As an old rivalry is revived, Oxford are set to arrive at the Select Car Leasing Stadium in their numbers, seeking their first league victory under Buckingham.
"When you have got a loud crowd of our away fans - and I'm sure they (Reading) will bring a good amount there - we will try and remove the emotions from it," said the 38-year-old.
"But at the same time you want the emotion in the game, that's the exciting part of football, it's making sure you can control that emotion."
Tuesday night's game in Berkshire will be the first league game between the sides since 2001.
Although he never featured in the fixture during his two-year playing spell at Oxford United, Buckingham understands the rivalry.
"It's not quite of the Swindon (Town) level, but I was here when we were in League Two and they had that ascendency when they went up to League One, the Championship, and then the Premier League. It was a time when we were looking and that was where we wanted to be," he said.
"That's changed a little bit now, but the rivalry is still there.
"We're aware of it, it is one that we have to control. The players are aware of it, I think we are taking just under 3,000 fans so that will be a wonderful thing for everyone on our team to see and experience."
Buckingham's side came under scrutiny after a 3-0 defeat away at Peterborough United on Saturday, and the U's boss is ready to see a response against the Royals.
He added: "The beauty with football, and the fixtures we have at the moment, is you get an opportunity to get back out on to the pitch.
"The players are ready to respond and to do that against one of our local rivals is a game we are very much looking forward to."
'The game has changed'
During his short managerial stint at the U's so far, Buckingham has been recognised as a calming figure at the helm.
And he believes the role of head coach has changed.
"Football traditionally has always been a sport where the head coach has to shout from the sidelines continuously for 90 minutes to make it seem like they know what they are talking about. The game has changed," he said.
"If we have done our work in the week, the players are aware of the game plan and it becomes reminders and that doesn't need to be every minute of the game. It needs to be when there is a need to - that's my take on it.
"How I am as a person, what people see publicly and what they may see privately, can be very different.
"My job is that we have consistency in how we operate and how we work.
"That way, on the sideline, for me has got me the success I've had and it's not one that I'm going to drastically change."
Des Buckingham was appointed Oxford head coach on 16 November