JOSH Ruffels believes Oxford United’s players will be unconcerned by past results as they attempt to end their Fleetwood Town hoodoo today.

The Cod Army have won eight and drawn one of their nine meetings with the U’s, including a 2-0 success at the Kassam Stadium in August.

They are one of only three teams in the top four divisions who United have never beaten, alongside Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

Ruffels has played in five of the meetings with Fleetwood and has good reason to want to forget last season’s trip.

But with such a high turnover in the squad, the left back does not think it should be an issue.

He said: “I had a nightmare last year with an own goal.

“If it was a similar team to what we’ve had before (it might be a problem), but it’s such a different group I don’t think anyone remembers the record.

“I don’t think that really plays a part, so everyone can just look forward and try to get the result we really need.”

With United on a three-game losing run in Sky Bet League One which has seen them drop back into the relegation zone, there could not be a better time to break their duck against Fleetwood.

Joey Barton’s side won 2-0 in the reverse fixture, which was part of a four-game losing streak at the start of the season.

With United now facing the same run of opponents, centre back Rob Dickie feels they have plenty to prove.

He said: “Definitely, we were so disappointed with how the start of the season went against those teams.

“We have to show we’re not that team any more. I honestly believe we’re not, we’ve come a long way since then.

“We just need to get back to what we were doing before that little Christmas period and start earning ourselves points and being difficult to beat.”

United had lost just once in 11 league games, which had taken them from the foot of the table to 18th place.

While they are firmly back in trouble, Dickie takes heart from the number of sides just above them.

He said: “I think there’s four points between the six clubs above us.

“Of course no-one wants to be below that line and we’re really disappointed with that, especially with the side we’ve got.

“But it’s encouraging to know if you can go on a little run you can get yourselves right back up there.”