Oxford United defender Matt Bound, who looks set to return at Bristol Rovers today (February 28), believes the team are just one good win from getting back on track.
The U's have picked up only nine points from their last eight games, but Bound, who was born in Bradford-on-Avon, just a few miles from Bristol, believes they are not far away from being the formidable outfit they were before Christmas.
"We've gone from losing only two all season to losing a few now, so the record doesn't look so good," he said.
"We genuinely thought we could go through the season losing only two or three, but that's a very hard thing to do.
"We know we haven't been playing well and the results show that. We've won two, drawn one and lost two of our last five, which is average, pure and simple.
"But one more good win and we'll be right back on track. We're still in third and hopefully we can get that win at Bristol today and maybe extend that gap over Mansfield and the others."
Bound could be one of two changes made by manager Ian Atkins, who said he is looking for more movement up front.
That suggests that Mark Rawle could come in, with Julian Alsop's place under threat.
Steve Basham is still rated doubtful because of his back/hamstring problem, though he has done some light training this week.
"We'll look at it in training to see whether we go with two or three up front, but it may also depend on how Rovers play," Atkins said.
Rovers' joint top scorer Paul Tait is still out with a knee injury, so the front two are likely to be Lee Matthews, the first player ever to be loaned out by Bristol City to their arch rivals, and Junior Agogo, a £110,000 signing from Barnet, who has scored just three this season.
Indeed, scoring goals has been a problem for the Pirates. They have found the net just three times in their last five matches, and one of those was a penalty.
Dave Savage is one of their key men in midfield, and Christian Edwards, who had two loan spells at Oxford, plays at centre back.
But another former United player, midfielder Robert Quinn, can't get into the team.
Under Phil Bater, who has been put in caretaker charge since Ray Graydon's departure, Rovers have not won in four games.
The game is definitely on following a morning pitch inspection.
Bristol Rovers: (probable) Miller, Boxall, Edwards, Barrett, Austin, Anderson, Savage, Hyde, Bryant, Matthews, Agogo. Subs: Haldane, Williams, Clarke, Arndale, Quinn.
Oxford Utd: (from) Woodman, McNiven, Crosby, McCarthy, Bound, Ashton, Robinson, Whitehead, Wanless, Hunt, Alsop, Steele, Basham, Rawle, Scott, Brown, Louis, Waterman, Hackett.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article