OXFORD United can exploit struggling York City’s fragile confidence if they get the first goal tonight, according to Liam Sercombe.

The Minstermen arrive in the relegation zone and with the worst away record in Sky Bet League Two.

York, whose solitary win on the road came in September, provide what look like ideal opponents for United to finally claim their first home league win of 2016.

Sercombe fought relegation battles in League One with Exeter City, so knows exactly what the York players will be feeling.

The midfielder thinks if the U’s can get their noses in front it could turn into a comfortable evening.

He said: “I’ve been in a relegation battle myself and it’s not a nice place to be.

“If we can get the first goal – I know from being in it myself – they will crumble a little bit.

“Their confidence will drop heavily and if we can get the first goal early on I’m sure we can score a lot more past them and beat them by a good margin.”

He added: “We haven’t won at home in 2016.

“It would be a good thing to get out of our heads.”

Michael Appleton has been delighted with his side’s attitude as they have bounced back to form with wins at Exeter City and AFC Wimbledon.

The U’s boss senses an opportunity, but only if they stay in the same frame of mind.

He said: “The biggest thing is if we go into the game and our mentality is any different to how it has been in the last two games, we’ll lose.

“We’re playing a side that are fighting for their lives.

“We have to make sure we match them mentally and physically.

“If we can do that then I’d back us from a technical and tactical point of view to win the game.”

U’s top scorer Kemar Roofe is expected to be back on the bench, where skipper Jake Wright could also return after shrugging off a hamstring strain.

But it is likely to be too early for John Lundstram (ankle), so Josh Ruffels will continue in midfield, while Sam Long is out (hip).

City are likely to welcome back winger Michael Coulson, who has been out with a groin problem, so on-loan Newcastle United centre back Lubo Satka is their only absentee (ankle).

Oxford Utd: from Buchel, Kenny, Dunkley, Mullins, Skarz, MacDonald, Sercombe, Ruffels, O’Dowda, Hylton, Bowery, Maguire, Waring, Roofe, Ismail, Ashby, Evans, Wright, Slocombe.

York City: from Ingham, Hendrie, Winfield, Boyle, Cameron, Coulson, Summerfield, Penn, Ilesanmi, Fewster, Oliver, Thompson, Hyde, Galbraith, McEvoy, Carson, Berrett, Flinders.