DANNY Hylton says he cannot believe Oxford United are having to look over their shoulder at this stage of the season, given the players and staff at the club.

The U’s have not been higher than 15th place in Sky Bet League Two and are 19th following back-to-back defeats to Accrington Stanley and Burton Albion.

With two-thirds of the season gone, they are just four points above the bottom two ahead of a high-pressure game at home to fellow strugglers Mansfield Town on Saturday.

When asked whether United’s lowly position in the table was a surprise, Hylton said: “Extremely.

“When I look at the players we’ve got and the staff we have, I can’t believe where we are.

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“But the table doesn’t lie over 30-odd games.

“There’s no-one else to blame. We players have to look at ourselves and we’ve not been good enough.

“It comes down to a 15-game season and every one is a cup final.”

Hylton was part of an Aldershot Town side who were relegated into non-league two seasons ago.

The 25-year-old is confident it will not happen at United, but it does mean he is taking the situation very seriously.

“It hit home that you’re not too good to go down,” he said.

“I genuinely believe we won’t go down and we will be absolutely fine, but with 15 games to go we do have to have one eye over our shoulders.”

He added: “(Being relegated) is a horrible feeling, it was sickening and I don’t want to experience that again.

“Oxford is a massive club and we will do everything we can to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Hylton is United’s top scorer with 14 goals, but just two have come in his last 17 appearances.

After the Burton defeat, he admitted to feeling frustrated at his own form.

He hopes to be able to rediscover it on the pitch against Mansfield, but knows no-one’s shirt is secure.

He said: “If the gaffer thinks it’s time to sit a couple of games out that’s his decision, but while I’m selected I always try to do my best.

“No-one’s place is. We have a good squad and there are good players who don’t even make the bench.

“You can’t take your place for granted, especially with where we are and that’s because we as players haven’t been doing our bit.

“You’ve got to prove yourself every game.”

  •  UNITED’S scheduled Oxfordshire Senior Cup quarter-final clash against Easington Sports at Abingdon United last night was postponed.