Manager Karl Robinson is looking for a change of fortune when his side travel to Adams Park on Saturday to take on Wycombe Wanderers.
Backed by a capacity away following, the United boss is looking for his side to bounce back after defeat against Coventry last Sunday.
“It’s important we get the win” he told iFollow earlier today. “But it was important we won last Sunday and we never, so all the preparation and the planning can quickly be discarded if things happen that are beyond the control of your players. That’s football. That’s why we sell out against Man City because people are hoping something freakish happens.
“You can never guarantee anything, but you can guarantee that you give 100% and that is what we are going to do. We are going to apply ourselves in the correct manner, work hard, apply ourselves to a very clear game plan and match the work ethic and desire of the opposition. Every game should be the same in terms of those things.”
United welcome back Gavin Whyte after he scored with his first touch in international football this week.
“He has had a great couple of months” Karl said. “He will be the first to say he had a step up to make and physically he found it hard, but it is great to have him back. He will go in to the squad and he will certainly make us better.”
With Samir Carruthers and keeper Simon Eastwood stepping up their training as well United should have a few more options soon.
“Samir’s maybe three and a half weeks off and doing well” Karl said. “Now it’s a case of strengthening that knee up and putting him in a better place but he’s not far away. Simon Eastwood is probably the same and when we have those two available we have a much better squad. Jamie Hanson is back after this game as well- I don’t think any other team has had to cope with what we have had so far this season.
“But we are getting there and everyone behind the scenes is very calm and calculated. Everyone knows the direction we want to go and what we want to achieve. It may just take a little longer for everything to bed in and settle down. But I am really pleased with the staff, the players and the dedication, including the fans. They understand it.
“At other clubs the fans maybe don’t get it when you have four or five of your best players out and the impact that has. But the Oxford fans get it and we appreciate that and respect it. They can see what we are trying to do, they see that we work hard and they know that everything we do is for them. Just right now we haven’t been getting the rub of the green that these players deserve, but that will turn, hopefully this Saturday.”
See the full interview, plus the thoughts of Gavin Whyte and Jamie Mackie, all in iFollow