GARY Waddock has called on Oxford United to back up last weekend’s fine performance with another against York City as he targets a ‘very Good Friday’ today (3).

United go into the game in the final play-off place after leapfrogging the Minstermen after a 2-0 win at Plymouth Argyle last Saturday.

It marked a long-awaited return to form and another victory would put a four-point cushion between themselves and eighth place.

Waddock stressed the players needed to match the levels they reached at Home Park as he looks to begin the Easter weekend on a high.

“It would make it a very good Friday,” he said.

“(Plymouth) was one game, and one game isn’t enough.

“We need to be consistent with that type of performance to get what we want.

“These are the games you want to be involved in.

“You want to test yourself against good sides in certain situations to see if you can produce the goods.

“Last weekend the players did that, now we have another opportunity to do it at home.”

While United have been among the leading contenders all season, York are late arrivals to the promotion party.

They have surged up the Sky Bet League Two table in recent weeks and will arrive on the back of a 13-game unbeaten run.

It has been built on an astonishing defensive record which has seen them concede just three goals and Waddock thinks it could be a tight affair.

He said: “In games like this you’ve got to be patient and when the opportunity comes you have to take it.

 

“They will want to have a solid base and so will we, but we’re the home team and we need to approach it in a positive manner.”

With no new injury concerns, United’s squad is likely to be unchanged and Waddock could select the same XI which began at Plymouth.

Deane Smalley (calf) will miss out, though, both this afternoon and for Monday’s trip to Scunthorpe United.

York are expected to be unchanged, with top scorer Wes Fletcher and lively winger Josh Carson ruled out for the rest of the season with knee injuries.

TODAY’S SQUADS

Oxford Utd: from Clarke, Hunt, Raynes, Wright, Newey, Wroe, Ruffels, Williams, Kitson, O’Dowda, Constable, Connolly, Potter, Rigg, Davies, Rose, Whing, Bevans, Crocombe.

York City: from Pope, Oyebanjo, McCombe, Lowe, Davies, Hayhurst, Reed, Penn, Brobbel, Andrew, Coulson, Bowman, Jarvis, Platt, Montrose, Allen, McGurk, Ingham