Joe Skarz says Oxford United are under no illusions about the scale of the task which still lies ahead if they are to get out of the relegation battle in Sky Bet League Two.

The U’s, who visit high-flying Bury tomorrow, have been unbeaten in the three games since head coach Michael Appleton declared they faced a 15-game season to get out of trouble.

But the side mis-fired during against Morecambe on Tuesday and needed a late equaliser from George Baldock to claim a 1-1 draw.

It left the gap to the relegation zone at a too-close-for-comfort five points.

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Skarz is keen to look at the positives, but admitted there was still a long way to go before Football League status is secure.

“We said we had a 15-game season and we’ve got five points from three games (since),” he commented.

“If you go on runs like that then you’re going to be fine, but we know there’s still a massive job to be done.

“The start [against Morecambe] was really disappointing, the first 15 minutes was worse than poor.

“We just couldn’t seem to get going and I don’t really know why.”

He added: “We know we’re in a proper scrap and the quicker you can climb away from the bottom places it’s vital.

“There’s nobody working any harder at any level than the lads and staff here to turn things around.

“That’s a recipe for success – really hard work.”

Nobody in the United squad knows more about getting a result at Gigg Lane than Skarz, who spent three seasons with the Shakers up to 2013.

The left back, who started every game of their promotion-winning season in 2010-11, is relishing the prospect of facing his former side for the first time since his departure.

“It’s a really good game to look forward to and, on paper, I believe they’ve probably got the strongest squad in the league,” he said.

“I’ve not been back, apart from watching.

“I really enjoyed my time there, it’s changed a lot since, but there’s still a few people in the offices who are still there.

“It will be nice to catch up with them, but my only focus is on going there and hopefully doing what I did quite a lot when I was there – winning.”