MATTY Taylor is bidding to help give Oxford United fans a much-needed lift at the end of a tough week.

Karl Robinson’s side head to Accrington Stanley this afternoon in search of their first Sky Bet League One points of the season.

A second successive 2-0 defeat of the campaign a week ago at home to Sunderland began a difficult few days for those connected with the club.

It was followed by the news it could be another six months before supporters are allowed back into football grounds, as a precaution against coronavirus.

Karl Robinson column: Oxford United's players striving to end tough week on high

Taylor is well aware of just how big a blow that will be, but the striker knows a win today would take the edge off the disappointment.

He said: “It’s unfortunate, but that’s the world we live in at the moment and there’s nothing we can do about it.

“We’re gutted for all the fans up and down the country.

“We’re trying to make them proud and give them a boost.

“Hopefully we can kick-start our season on Saturday.”

United’s Carabao Cup exit last week meant they had a rare blank Tuesday in what is a packed start to the campaign.

But Taylor admitted after the display against Sunderland, the trip to face Accrington has been a long time coming as they look to get the defeat out of their system.

“That did cross my mind when the whistle went,” he said.

“I hoped there was a game on Tuesday because you just want to get back out there and put it right.

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“When you win your next game you forget about it slightly.

“It’s not the way the fixtures came out, it’s been a longer week but we have worked very hard on a few things. We’re raring to go.”

Just as the team are looking to get going, the same applies to Taylor.

After struggling with fitness while he drew a blank in the play-off games during the summer, the front man heads to the Crown Ground looking for his first goal since February.

A lack of service has made his job tougher so far, but the experienced goalscorer knows it is simply a matter of continuing to do the right things.

He said: “You always want to get the first one as soon as possible.

“We haven’t been as free-flowing as we would have liked. I’ve had maybe one chance in either game.

“The keeper’s made a good save (at Lincoln) and the other one I’m not sure how the header spun away.

“That’s just the life of a striker. I’ll keep getting in there and hopefully more fly in than not.”