MICHAEL Collins believes tonight's clash is the most important of Oxford United's season as they attempt to open the gap on the battle at the bottom with a home victory against Morecambe.

Despite taking satisfaction from a hard-fought goalless draw against in-form Portsmouth on Saturday, results elsewhere meant the cushion over the relegation zone was trimmed to five points.

But with several sides below the U's in action against each other this evening, a win against Morecambe could see the advantage stretched to eight points – as large as it has been all season.

And Collins is in no mood to play down the significance of the game at the Kassam Stadium.

  • Latest United news:

He said: "We came in pleased with the result on Saturday and then one thing a lot of the lads do is check the other results and actually you find we’re a point closer to it.

"That’s how it will be up to the end of the season and all we can do is focus on ourselves.

"We’ve done that in the last two games and if we can get three points on Tuesday I’d like to think there might be a bit of a different look on the table, considering quite a few of the others are playing each other.

"It’s a very important game for us and if you want to label it as the biggest of the season, I’d go along with that."

United go into the game buoyant, with the draw at Portsmouth coming on the back of a 3-0 win against Mansfield Town in their previous home game.

But Collins is well aware the season has been dogged by inconsistency, with several bright moments failing to turn into a lengthy run of good form.

The 28-year-old admits there have been times when the squad have gotten ahead of themselves, but thinks there is one good reason which will help to prevent it happening this time.

"By remembering what’s gone wrong in the past," he said.

"We came off the back of that Luton game (a 1-1 draw last month) buzzing and thinking we had turned a corner.

"I remember doing an interview saying it looked like we had developed a steely mentality and then we go and lose to Accrington and Burton, contradicting everything I had said.

"It’s about being aware of what’s gone on in the past and making sure we learn from it.

"I also think we have to build on the positive of the last two results.

"We’re not going to get carried away but we have to lean on those last two performances and take encouragement from them to take into Tuesday.

"If we do that I’m confident we’ll be fine."