Ryan Clarke sees Oxford United’s clash with Cheltenham Town tonight as an immediate opportunity to make amends for defeat at the weekend, writes David Pritchard.

The goalkeeper saved a penalty on Saturday, but it did not prevent the U’s losing 2-1 to Burton Albion, despite a strong showing in the second half at the Kassam Stadium.

Another home game means there has been little time to stew on the result, which Clarke believes is very welcome.

He said: “It plays on your mind all weekend, but I’m just glad we’ve got a game quickly to try and turn things round.

“We’ve got a good chance to put things right, we’ve just got to take the second half performance from Saturday into the game.”

United have lost three of their last four games, their worst run of the season, but Clarke is not too worried.

He said: “We would’ve liked to have taken more points from the last three or four games, but so be it.

“It’s our first mini-blip of the season and if it’s going to take 35 games for that to happen then we must have been doing something right.

“We’ve got the personnel not to dwell on it.”

David Connolly is in line for a start after impressing as a substitute on Saturday.

The former Republic of Ireland international is looking forward to another vitally important clash.

He said: “Every game’s big at this stage of the season.

“It’ll be tough and the onus will be on us as the home team to go for it.”

  • Highlights from the away game