EVEN before he had left Wembley Stadium, Liam Sercombe’s mind was already on the trip to Crawley this weekend.
Saturday’s visit to Sussex will not have the same glamour as a game at the national stadium, but for Oxford United it is more important.
Automatic promotion from Sky Bet League Two is within reach over the next half dozen games and Sercombe was quick to move on from the 3-2 defeat to Barnsley.
He said: “We’re all disappointed, but the main thing for us is to get back into the league now.
“This is out of the way and we have six games left to get promoted.
“It’s always been our aim.
“We battled well against a League One side that’s flying.
“Their form is great and we put a good show on.
"It’s a bonus for us to have that and I know we’re capable of playing in League One, even with the team we have now.
“We have to finish the job over the next six games.”
Sercombe’s big moment against Barnsley was arguably the most pivotal of the entire match.
Having just fallen 2-1 behind, with 20 minutes remaining the midfielder latched on to a pass from Danny Hylton.
He said: “I saw Hylts and I knew I could make a little run. He gave it to me and I got a shot away.
“It was a good save and it took a little deflection, so the keeper did well.”
Within four minutes Barnsley were 3-1 up and although Hylton set up a big finale by pulling a goal back, United did not get another clear chance.
Sercombe said: “We are missing a few key players at the minute, so we did well.
“We gave it everything, our fans deserved a victory, but I think they will be proud of us.”
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