PAUL McLaren says that if Oxford United’s defence can continue to perform to the same standard as on Sunday, the U’s have a real chance.

The midfielder now has a record of played two, won two this season – but has stopped short of reminding his teammates about it.

“I daren’t mention that,” he said.

“But it’s obviously nice that we have got two good results in the last two games.

“I think we would probably have lost at Swindon last year.

“We looked strong at the back, we looked a good unit there and it’s important to have a platform there.”

McLaren said that boss Chris Wilder made sure the players knew what their priority was when they returned to training this week.

“The fans can keep celebrating all week, but we have to be professional about it,” he said.

“When we came in on Tuesday the gaffer got into us the importance of Saturday.

“There’s no point beating Swindon and then not getting the result on Saturday.”

McLaren now feels fully fit after missing all of pre-season through a calf injury, only joining in training with the first-team two days before the start of the sea-son.

“You are very aware that you are losing ground on the others in pre-season while they play games and you are sitting there getting treatment,” he said.

“I had to do a mini pre-season on my own which wasn’t fun, but it had to be done.

“But I feel fine now, the injury is good and hopefully I can keep going now.”