New centre back Jake Wright says Oxford United’s players are having to produce their best – to stay in the team.

Wright gave his most authoritative display to date in Saturday’s thumping 4-0 win at Grays Athletic, which keeps Oxford snapping at the heels of Blue Square Premier leaders Stevenage Borough.

The on-loan Brighton defender says competition within the squad is so strong, that the players know they will lose their place if standards drop.

But at the New Rec, the whole side performed, and the four-goal winning margin helped the U’s goal difference, which now stands at one better than Graham Westley’s men.

“It was important to get back into it after a disappointing result against Tamworth, where we didn’t perform and where all over the pitch everyone was average,” Wright said. “On Saturday all over the pitch everyone was bang at it.”

The 23-year-old former Halifax and Crawley defender, who began his career as a trainee at Bradford, has had to adjust rapidly to his new teammates and a new back line.

The back four, for example, at Salisbury in United’s previous away game was Chapman, Foster, Creighton and Sandwith. This time it was Batt, Day, Wright and Tonkin.

“As professionals we’ve got to make that change quickly, but the lads have been good since we’ve come in, and I think it helps that, although it’s not that big a squad in terms of numbers, every player in that squad can play in the team,” added Wright.

“So everyone’s always wanting to do their best, and you have to keep looking over your shoulder because you know that if you don’t do your best, others can come in and play well.

“Grays had one shot, i think, and that was offside. We defended well – but that was in midfield as well, not just the back four.

“And we got the goals this time with some good finishing. It could have happened against Tamworth, we probably had as many chances against Tamworth, the difference was that this time the goals went in.”

Wright said manager Chris Wilder insisted afterwards that the team have to try to maintain that level.

“He said ‘well done, you’ve gone out and been very professional, but make sure you do the same next game’.”

The victory was United’s biggest away win of the season and their best on the road in the league since their 5-1 triumph at Forest Green Rovers in October 2006.

And it can only boost the team’s self-belief.

“I don’t think confidence has ever been down,” Wright said.

“We’re second in the league with two games in hand, and if we win one of the games in hand, we go top.”

ADULT ticket prices are just £10 for Oxford United’s FA Carlsberg Trophy third-round tie at Chelmsford City on Saturday, with seats £1 more.

The match is pay-on-the-day and United supporters will have terracing as well as 265 seats available.