NIGEL Clough expects to be facing a confident Oxford United side when they visit his Burton Albion tomorrow.

Despite Karl Robinson’s line-up letting a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2 with Barnsley in midweek, the Brewers boss reckons it offers the U’s a platform to build on at the Pirelli Stadium.

He told the Burton Mail: “They played extremely well for 65, 70 minutes against one of the best teams in the league.

“I think they’ll be buoyed by that.

“They were off last weekend, so I think they were fresh and ready for a game.

“They will take some confidence coming here on Saturday.

“It’s the same with Bradford. They got a late winner on Tuesday night, and they were probably buoyed by the confidence of getting a point here last week.”

Speaking before United signed Jerome Sinclair, Clough had his fingers crossed the U’s striker search failed to deliver.

He said: “It seems they might have a goal threat in by Saturday, another threat to go with James Henry, Jamie Mackie and people like that.

“Let’s hope he doesn’t get one!”

Burton will not have any new faces in the squad tomorrow after deadline day passed without incident.