Tom Craddock is hoping to terrorise Accrington Stanley’s defence once again as Oxford United set their sights on the FA Cup third round tonight.

The 26-year-old ran the Lancashire side ragged when they visited the Kassam Stadium in October – bagging four goals in a 5-0 demolition.

It is by far United’s biggest win of the season and another victory would provide a welcome tonic for the underachieving side.

Craddock wants to help set up a third-round tie at home to Sheffield United and is looking forward to taking on Stanley’s back four once again.

“Some people say lightning doesn’t strike twice, but I hope it does,” he said.

“I think in that game it all seemed to click, hopefully I can get another few of them.

“The FA Cup speaks for itself, the third round is there if we go through so we’ve just got to make sure we’re bang at it.

“We have to make sure we play at a high tempo and take the game to them – hopefully that can see us through.”

The second-round replay was scheduled for last Wednesday, but the freezing weather forced a postponement.

It has turned out to be a useful delay for United’s top scorer, who has only just returned from a month out with a rib injury.

Craddock added: “I was disappointed it got called off last week, but it’s given me a couple of days to get some training in me, so it’s probably worked out for the best.”

The former Middlesbrough trainee is gradually playing his way back to fitness following the lay-off.

He struggled as a substitute on his return for United in the 1-1 draw against Aldershot, but looked brighter before tiring at Morecambe on Saturday when the game finished with the same scoreline.

Although Craddock missed one excellent chance to add to his ten goals for the campaign, the striker believes the 90 minutes will help tonight.

He said: “I didn’t train very well the day before Aldershot, obviously I was a little bit rusty in the game and even the Monday after I wasn’t great.

“But since then I’ve started to feel good, especially in the first half of the game at Morecambe, so hopefully the cobwebs have gone now.”