OXFORD United’s players are in no doubt about the importance of tonight’s derby against Swindon Town, says Anthony Forde.

The Irishman is expected to start the Sky Bet League One clash at the County Ground after an assured performance in the stalemate with Charlton Athletic on Saturday.

It would be the 27-year-old’s first derby minutes with the U’s, after he was an unused substitute for November’s reverse fixture at the Kassam Stadium.

Forde watched from the bench that day, as United conceded twice in the last five minutes to lose 2-1 and he is keen to help his teammates make amends.

The midfielder said: “We need to win it, simple as that.

“The last one wasn’t good enough and that’s forgotten about now.

Karl Robinson: It's all to play for against Swindon

“But we’ve got to play as well as we can and win the game.”

Another player set to get his first taste of a Swindon clash is Jamie Hanson, who missed most of the first three months of the season through injury.

The former Derby County trainee could continue at right back in Sam Long’s absence as United aim to reclaim the bragging rights – and close in on the play-off places at the same time.

“With them beating us at home, we’ve got something to prove,” the 25-year-old said.

“We know how much we want it, we know how much the fans want it, so we’ve got to earn the right to come away with three points.

“Then we can start climbing the table.”