MICHAEL Appleton is hopeful the manner of Oxford United’s defeat to Southend United on Saturday will act as a spur in their bid to sign players before the weekend.

Despite the club’s efforts to bolster the squad, so far all the activity during the January transfer window has seen players leave.

Last week Appleton, United’s head coach, was optimistic of clinching two deals before the Southend game, but they missed out on several targets.

In their absence, the team’s poor run was extended with a 3-2 defeat at the Kassam Stadium, against a side which played for an hour with ten men.

It was a low point in the campaign for Appleton, who felt the sobering result could improve their chances of bringing in at least one player before Saturday, when Exeter City visit the Kassam Stadium.

The U’s boss said: “It hopefully will be used as a catalyst to try and do things a little bit quicker, if we can get it done.

“But we’re certainly working hard to get players in. It’s just making sure that they’re the right ones.”

He added: “We are close, in terms of the timescale though it’s difficult because no club really wants to lose players in January.

“We are certainly aware quite a few players have left the building over the last four or five weeks, so we have to be looking to bring at least three or four players in to replace the players we lost.

“Getting the right ones is going to be important.

“We are in a lot of dialogue with two or three players and hopefully that will continue.”

United again used their development side to have a look at triallists, with four playing in a goalless draw with the Nike Academy yesterday.