Pressure's off us, says Davis (From Herald Series)

Pressure's off us, says Davis

9:20am Saturday 23rd March 2013 in Sport By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458

Liam Davis says Oxford United will be helped today because the pressure is all on promotion-chasing Northampton Town.

The Cobblers have the best home form in npower League Two and will be attempting to win a ninth successive league game at Sixfields.

After their fixture was called off last weekend, Town will be anxious to make up for lost time and keep pace with the leading pack.

United are also on a mission – in need of a result, which would reignite their play-off chances after a 1-0 home loss to Chesterfield last weekend.

Chris Wilder’s men have found it much easier to perform on their travels in recent weeks and have won six of their last eight away days.

Davis believes the onus is on Northampton as the home side, which suits United.

“I think the pressure is on them,” said the former Town defender, pictured.

“Our away form has been quite good, so we’ll use that as a positive and go to Sixfields and try to upset them.

“When the pressure is off you it is easier to perform sometimes and our away form has shown that.”

Tony Capaldi (back) has returned to training, but is not ready to return, while Lewis Montrose (hamstring) is still two weeks away from fitness.

It means the squad could be unchanged, although Jon-Paul Pittman, who scored the winner when the sides met in November, could be drafted in.

After watching his side wasting a host of chances against the Spireites, Wilder admitted he was considering recalling Tom Craddock.

He said: “Tommy’s knocking on the door because we’ve missed chances recently – even when we’ve had decent results.”

Northampton have no new injury concerns.

TODAY’S SQUADS

Northampton: from Nicholls, Tozer, Langmead, Carlisle, Widdowson, Hackett, Harding, Hornby, Demon-tagnac, Platt, O’Donovan, Akinfenwa, Collins, Snedker, Guttridge, Dias, Robinson.

Oxford Utd: from McCormick, Batt, Raynes, Wright, Davis, Potter, Whing, Davies, Rigg, Constable, Craddock, Smalley, Potter, Pittman, Heslop, Worley, Duberry, O’Brien, Brown.