I fear I am in the overwhelming minority of Oxford United fans who still believes that we have a fighting chance of making the play-off places this season. I'll tell you why.
Firstly, we are only six points adrift from that much sought after seventh place and we still have six games remaining. No one expects us to reach the play-offs now and so we have licence to freely express ourselves and play without any fear. The pressure is off our group of young players and this will certainly benefit them.
Secondly, our remaining fixtures may appear daunting, with our next three games pitting us against local rivals Wycombe, followed by tricky tests away at high flying Accrington Stanley and at home to top of the league Chesterfield. However, throughout the season we have raised our game against such opposition and in turn have struggled against the likes of lowly Stockport County and Hereford. Not many sides in the division have turned over Chesterfield at their plush new stadium or done the double over Port Vale. We must take belief from this.
Thirdly, the results in League 2 are almost impossible to predict. Throughout the season, almost every team in the division has had a great run of form but have also suffered from terrible winless streaks. Oxford are now reliant on the teams above them dropping points, but there is every chance that this will happen due to the changeable nature of the league.
Fourthly, I was at Adams Park in August for the away game between Wycombe and Oxford and we outplayed them, particularly in the second half. Our local rivals may be smugly sitting in an automatic place, but we have no reason to fear them tomorrow.
For these reasons, I urge you to keep believing in our chances of reaching the play-offs until they have become a mathematical impossibility.
Tomorrow should be a cracking game and a belting atmosphere. Be there.
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