JAMES Henry and Matty Taylor have been in Oxford United’s position before – and only one has fond memories.
In 2014/15, Henry was part of the Wolverhampton Wanderers side that came out on the wrong end of a four-team fight for two Sky Bet Championship play-off places.
Taylor experienced the other side of the coin 12 months later, when Bristol Rovers scored a last-minute winner against Dagenham & Redbridge to seal promotion from League Two, alongside the U’s.
Ironically, the team that missed out that day was Accrington Stanley, who need at least a point at Portsmouth on Sunday for United to have a chance of reaching the League One play-offs.
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Taylor knows the absence of fans will give Sunday’s game against Burton Albion a different flavour, but he is even more desperate to win.
He said: “It’s different with the crowd – it makes the day very special, hearing the noise throughout the game.
“The groans, the cheers, the gasps, you do get a vibe of what’s going on without fully knowing.
“It was literally the last kick of the game, I actually missed a chance and then our left back poked it in.
“It was an amazing day and I know we won’t get promoted on Sunday, but it gives us another opportunity to go one better than last year.”
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He added: “It would mean everything to me, I’d love to get promoted with my hometown club.
“I’m going to live here for many years and it’ll be nice when I’m not playing for it to be remembered.”
In 2015, Henry’s Wolves side beat Millwall 4-2 to reach 78 points, but they were edged out by Ipswich Town and Brentford on goal difference.
Six years on, United could be in a similarly rare position of finishing seventh with 74 points and Henry hopes history does not repeat itself.
The midfielder said: “I’ve been here before, hopefully I’ll be on the right side of it this time.
“It was the first time someone missed out with 78 points in the Championship.”
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