Oxford United are out to set the record straight against Barrow.

It was the Cumbrian outfit who wrecked the start of their season with a thumping 3-0 win in the televised game at Holker Street last August on a night when everything that could go wrong did.

However, U’s captain Adam Murray says it’s not so much revenge that the players have on their minds, as coming up with a performance for their own self-pride.

“I wouldn’t say we owe them one, we owe ourselves and the fans more than anything,” he said. “We let ourselves down after what had been a very good pre-season.”

The 27-year-old midfielder is enjoying the best scoring form of his Oxford career, having netted in each of the last three games – and that after having scored only one all season.

And he says that’s not just down to him being pushed further forward, but to the team playing well and the new team spirit that has built up under Chris Wilder.

“You always get a bit of a boost from everyone when a new manager comes in, but this has carried on and everyone’s really buzzing,” he said.

“When you get that team spirit, it’s fantastic, I’ve had that before at one or two clubs I’ve played at.

“We didn’t have that togetherness at the start of the season, and it shows on the pitch. I think earlier this season we had some players playing for themselves much more, there’s more togetherness and wanting to help each other now.

“The manager said that was what he wanted from us, and if any player didn’t want to buy into that, he wouldn’t be part of what he was looking to do.

“It’s a whole different feel, the lads that have come in have jumped at it, and we’ve got every single player pull-ing in the same direction.”

Murray is naturally delighted by his own scoring streak.

“Three in three games isn’t bad, is it?” he smiled.

Indeed, that’s something even 15-goal James Constable can’t match at the moment.

“Obviously, part of it is down to playing forward. In the first two months of the season I never got into the opposition half!

“I’m enjoying playing in the role, the team are playing well and I’ve got a spring in my step now.

“And when I’m in this frame of mind, and enjoying it, everything comes naturally.

“But it’s also that the team performance has picked up massively, and I’m just happy we’re back to playing as we were at the end of last season.”

Barrow’s players have gained confidence from their run in the Setanta Shield, though their Northern Section final against AFC Telford on Tuesday had to be postponed because of a frozen pitch.

League-wise, the stunning start to the season Barrow made proved to be something of a false dawn.

The Bluebirds had a phenomenal run at the end of last season to win promotion from Blue Square North, and then with such a good start – they won 4-3 at Altrincham, 3-0 at Lewes and beat Mansfield 2-1 at home in the opening weeks – everyone in Furness was getting carried away.

But reality set in with a few poor results, and the part-time club have ended up fighting a battle to stay up, which is what they had expected before the season began.

They only have a squad of 15-16, and there have been a few changes from last August.

Alan Martin, a Scotland Under 21 international, has come in on loan from Leeds United to take over as the No 1 goalkeeper from Tim Deasy.

Right back Michael Pearson is out for the remainder of the season after breaking his leg in the 2-1 defeat by Middles-brough in the FA Cup third round last month, while leading scorer Jason Walker has a new partner up front.

Lee Hunt has now gone out on loan to Blue Square North side Droylsden, and in has come Paul Tait, the experienced former Bristol Rovers, Crewe and Rochdale striker who has played against the U’s several times before.

Central midfielder Mark Boyd, sent off in the 0-0 draw with Salisbury on January 31, misses the game through suspension, serving the final game of his three-match ban. Left-sided defender Carlos Logan is also banned.

Like Oxford, it was a frustrating time for Barrow last weekend. Their home league game against Torquay was postponed on the Friday because their Devon opponents were snowed in.

Come 3pm on the Saturday, the pitch was playable, but they had no-one to play!