FORGET the cameras and focus on finding a way to claim three points will be the message from Michael Appleton to his Oxford United players this weekend.

AFC Wimbledon’s visit to the Kassam Stadium has been moved to a 12.15pm kick-off on Sunday so it can be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

United were on television five times last season, most recently the 3-2 defeat to Barnsley in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final at Wembley last April.

Several summer signings said watching that game, or the area final first-leg success at Millwall, left them with a positive impression of United which played a part in their decision to join.

The Dons clash is another opportunity to impress a wider audience, but Appleton insists any style comes secondary to substance.

He said: “We probably made that mistake in the past and I worried myself about putting a show on.

“Hopefully the players can perform as I know they can, but ultimately I want to win.

“If we do that by not playing particularly well so be it. Hopefully we put a better display in the week after.

“We were delighted in the way we played at Wembley, but we lost.

“The message is ‘first and foremost can you win the game and as a bonus can you put a decent performance in?’”

United did the double over Wimbledon in League Two, but both games were tight.

George Baldock scored the only goal late on at the Kassam Stadium, while it took a solo effort from Jordan Bowery to win 2-1 at Kingsmeadow.

While the division may have changed since then, Appleton is expecting more of the

same.

He said: “I think Sunday’s game might be similar to last year in terms of being a game of chess.

“They were very tough battles and it took two fantastic goals to win the games.

“I think it could be quite cagey to start with, but I always say to the players stay in the game after 70 minutes because if that’s the case I’m quite confident.”