Chris Wilder is making sure his Oxford United players keep their focus for Sunday’s crucial final game against Northwich.

He doesn’t want them distracted and is warning that the already-relegated Vics could be a dangerous animal.

After last night’s victory over Ebbsfleet, Northwich have won five games in a row.

“It’s a confident changing room and a happy one after that great win at Burton but it’s not an arrogant one,” Wilder said.

“It’s one where we keep our feet on the ground.

“There are no gimmies in football and Northwich have proved over the last few weeks, with Andy Preece involved, that they’re a decent side, and they’ll come to our place wanting to upset the party, like we did at Burton last Friday.”

United’s players rested yesterday, but will train today and tomorrow for Sunday’s big game, when a win over Northwich, plus a defeat for Torquay at home to Burton, and a draw or defeat for Kidderminster, at home to Kettering, would see them sneak into the play-off positions and cap an astonishing change in fortunes.

For all the results to go Oxford’s way is still a long shot, but just to take it to the last day of the season is an unbelievable achievement.

“They’re two competitive sides that Torquay and Kidderminster are playing, which is the good thing for us,” Wilder added.

“But we’ve got to make sure we get the result we need – and that’s the be all and end all. Whatever we have to do to get the result, we will do that.

“Northwich have been on a good run, but we have been positive at home and we will be going all out to win the game.

“Whatever happens at the other grounds, we’ve made sure the other clubs have had to work for it to get into the play-offs.”

United have won ten of their last 11 home games and will be looking for the double against Northwich, having won 2-1 in Cheshire in September.

Meanwhile, Shane Killock is out of Sunday’s game after suffering a recurrence of his hamstring injury in Oxford United’s Oxfordshire Senior Cup win over Banbury on Tuesday.