OXFORD United need to shed their ‘nice’ image to get out of relegation trouble.

That was the post-match assessment from Jordan Graham and Jamie Mackie after the side bared their teeth to claim a point at Fleetwood Town.

The U’s looked in big trouble when they fell 2-0 down, but a heated half-time discussion – coupled with the introduction of Mackie as a substitute – turned the game.

James Henry and Mackie netted to make it 2-2 and the visitors had chances to win the game in the closing stages.

Graham was one of those to voice his concerns at the interval.

“We had some words at half-time and it was clearly much-needed,” he said.

“We came out in the second half and played how we should have done from the first minute.

“The gaffer was saying to us we’re too nice as a group, we’re too polite to each other.

“Every day it’s nicey-nice and with the position we’re in it’s not the right attitude.

“We need to dig each other out and demand more from each other every single training session and match.”

With almost 500 games under his belt, Mackie is the most experienced player in United’s squad.

He could be seen badgering his teammates throughout the half to keep standards high.

And the forward felt it was down to everyone to ensure the U’s stayed on track.

He said: “Sometimes it gets to that and it’s not about being friends.

“There’s a great team spirit at the club and a really good set of lads.

“But it doesn’t count for a lot, it’s about winning football matches and you need that nasty streak.

“We need to make sure we’ve got that because of the position we’re in.

“We have to make sure that as a minimum every single player is bang up for it and ready to stand up and be counted.

“It doesn’t matter what age you are, it’s about being vocal and demanding of each other.

“Afterwards you’re pals and you get on with it, but on the pitch it’s about being demanding.

“Whether people haven’t played loads of games or not you have to demand the same.

“It’s about us all being out there wanting the one thing and being ruthless all the time, rather than sometimes waiting for things to happen.”

Mackie did not savour his fourth goal of the season and instead raced back to the halfway line.

He said: “I could feel the atmosphere in the stadium and when you’re in the ascendancy you need to carry it on to try to get the next goal.

“Sometimes if it’s the last minute and you settle for a draw it’s a bit different and you celebrate, but this wasn’t one of them.

“I think we could have gone on and won the game.”