MICHAEL Appleton is considering making changes as he bids to keep Oxford United’s performance levels high when they host York City this afternoon.

There will be no shortage of confidence among the U’s following a 3-2 win at Wycombe Wanderers on Good Friday.

Appleton has tended to keep faith with a winning team where possible this season, but he is likely to shuffle his pack for a second game in four days.

It is prompted by United’s struggle to replicate good performances, something which was in the head coach’s thoughts even before the Wycombe game.

“There is that, without a shadow of a doubt,” he said.

“One thing which is in the back of my mind is Accrington (1-0 defeat), Hartlepool (2-0 defeat), Morecambe (1-1), I probably don’t have to say any more.

“We’ve had some really good performances by a group of players and then two or three days later for whatever reason we haven’t had the energy.”

He added: “Sometimes you have to keep freshening it up.”

United are not short of attacking options waiting in the wings.

Callum O’Dowda, Kyle Vassell and James Roberts have all had to make do with brief substitute appearances in recent games.

They are knocking on the door, along with Alex MacDonald, available again after serving a two-game suspension.

Back-to-back wins against Wycombe and Carlisle United have lifted United ten points clear of the bottom two.

With six games remaining their safety would be virtually guaranteed with another success this afternoon.

Appleton is determined United keep the hammer down to ensure benefits in both e short and medium term.

He said: “It’s not a matter of just getting enough points to make sure we’re OK for next year, it’s about momentum.

“It’s really important we crack on from here and go into the end of the season with a little bit of momentum behind us so we can do what we need to do next year.”

York have also won their last two games to climb away from the relegation trapdoor.

The most recent, a 1-0 win at home to basement boys Cheltenham Town, was vital in their survival hopes, although the Minstermen’s cushion over the bottom two is only five points.

Josh Carson is a doubt, but first-choice goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik is back after a ban.

TODAY’S SQUADS Oxford Utd: from Clarke, Baldock, Mullins, Wright, Skarz, Roofe, Collins, Ruffels, Rose, Hylton, Hoban, Vassell, Roberts, O’Dowda, MacDonald, Whing, Ashby, Long, Dunkley, Ashdown.

York City: from Olejnik, McCombe, Lowe, Winfield, Coulson, Summerfield, Penn, Halliday, Platt, Coulthirst, Hyde, O’Hanlon, Miller, Montrose, Ilesanmi, McCoy, Zubar, Ingham.