LIAM Manning says he enjoys the pressure and expectation he has built at Oxford United after a rapid start to the season.

United have won nine of their opening 14 games in Sky Bet League One, leaving them second in the table and with a game in hand on leaders Portsmouth.

The U’s head to Lincoln City this evening, looking to close the six-point gap to Pompey.

It comes though after a campaign last time round which saw United flirt with relegation, with safety only secured late on in the season.

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Manning said: “I’m pretty sure if you’d asked anybody at the club at the back end of last season, ‘would you take it?’, of course people would.

“Sometimes you create a level of expectation, which is good and I’d much prefer that pressure and expectation, and excitement amongst the fans.

“That’s the big bit for me, never take for granted the position we’re in and the results we’ve had so far.

“Across the course of the season, it’s such a long season and what we don’t want is major highs and lows straight away when we lose or draw a game.

“If anything, use last season as a reminder and enjoy the moment we’re in.”