OXFORD United are not too good to go down and the players need to realise their careers are on the line, according to Michael Collins.

A 3-2 defeat at home to ten-man Southend United on Saturday saw Michael Appleton's men slip to within three points of the bottom two.

It extended a poor run of results to just one win in nine Sky Bet League Two games for the U's, who have not been higher than 15th place this season.

While there is still almost half the campaign remaining and several teams between them and the relegation zone, many supporters are concerned.

And Collins knows from experience it would be a mistake for anyone within the club not to take the situation seriously.

The midfielder said: "I've played in a team at Scunthorpe in League One where people kept saying to us we were too good to go down.

"But we went down, so I'm not having that.

"If there's anybody sat in the dressing room thinking 'I'll be OK', then the harsh reality of football is you won't be.

"We are playing for futures now and every time you're asked to do a job for this club you have a responsibility to do exactly what you're asked.

"It's disappointing that sort of statement is now being thrown about with 20 games of the season to go.

"But that's the reality of it, we've got to step up and realise that's where we are at.

"There's no point in us saying 'well, if we string a couple of wins together where could we end up?'"

Collins feels it is key for all those within the camp to focus on how they could improve this week and not point fingers at each other ahead of Saturday's clash with Exeter City at the Kassam Stadium.

The 28-year-old, who returned to the starting line-up on Saturday after two games out, thought the biggest attribute they needed to show now was courage.

He said: "People are going to have to be as brave as they've ever been in their careers.

"Rightly so there will probably be a few jeers from the fans and that's why we've got to make sure we don't let it affect us and continue to try to do the right things.

"That's what being brave is, it's having that character within you to say 'I'm going to step up and have a proper go'.

"I think that's what we're going to have to do now as a group."