CAMERON Brannagan says Oxford United’s recent performance levels mean the games cannot come quickly enough.

Peterborough United visit the Kassam Stadium today looking to narrow the gap to the Sky Bet League One play-off places.

Their hosts only sit above the relegation zone on goal difference, but are in good spirits.

A five-game unbeaten run includes strong displays against promotion hopefuls Portsmouth, Barnsley and Sunderland, so Posh’s position in the table will hold no fears.

Brannagan was disappointed to only draw against the latter two sides, but United’s displays pleased the former Liverpool trainee.

He said: “When Saturday comes we’ll be ready. I can’t wait because we have been playing well.

“We should have beaten Sunderland.

“They are a good side, but I thought we passed them off the park and created more than them. We can only be positive and confident.”

He added: “It seems weird that every time we play a big side we get a decent result.

“I think the mentality we take into a big game needs to be the same against the not-so big sides.

“We need to keep up with what we’re doing and hopefully turn a draw into a win.”

Brannagan has been one of this season’s stars, with boss Karl Robinson this week praising his evolution into a more all-round midfielder.

Only 22, he has not yet made 50 league starts, so this campaign has been an education.

One area which Brannagan has worked on is discipline, with the threat of a two-match ban hanging over his head if he collects a tenth league booking of the season before the 37-game game cut-off.

He said: “I still get a bit wound up sometimes, especially with referees.

“If there’s a tackle to be won I’ll still be flying into it, but I’m a lot more careful because I don’t want to miss two games.

“It’s my first full season and I’m learning a lot from it.

“I’m a winner, so I’m a bit frustrated with how the season’s gone, but we can only look forward.”

Posh will be without Tyler Denton, who was sent off in last week’s 3-1 defeat at Doncaster Rovers, but Lee Tomlin is back after suspension.

TODAY’S SQUADS

Oxford Utd: from Eastwood, Hanson, Nelson, Dickie, Ruffels, Mousinho, Henry, Brannagan, Whyte, Sinclair, Graham, Mackie, Browne, Carruthers, Sykes, Kashi, Garbutt, Long, Stevens.

Peterborough Utd: from O’Malley, Naismith, White, Bennett, Woodyard, Cooke, Ward, Cooper, Toney, Maddison, Stevens, Godden, Dempsey, Tomlin, Reed, Tafazolli, Knight, Chapman.