OXFORD United are treating today’s game at Northampton Town with the same importance as next weekend’s Checkatrade Trophy final at Wembley, according to Chey Dunkley.

Michael Appleton’s men missed out on the chance to close in on the Sky Bet League One play-off places when they lost their game in hand 4-2 to Bolton Wanderers.

But with eight games remaining the squad are still pushing to keep the pressure on the sides above them.

And Dunkley knows every clash is vital to keep the battle going on two fronts.

The defender said: “They’re all cup finals from now until the end of the season.

“Our focus is on Northampton, we won’t be thinking about Coventry.

“We’re still thinking about (the play-offs) because mathematically we can get in there.

“There is a never-say-die spirit about us, but we need to focus on it game-by-game.”

Northampton have won the last three meetings, pinching the reverse fixture 1-0 with a stoppage-time goal on Boxing Day.

It is also the last chance for Appleton’s side to arrest a dreadful run against teams they were promoted alongside last season – so far they have lost all five games.

Dunkley’s priority is to help keep a clean sheet for the first time in eight games.

And after scoring at the wrong end in the loss to Bolton, the centre back knows he must shrug off the personal setback quickly.

He said: “I can beat myself up about it, higher profile players than me have scored own goals.

“I’ve looked at where I could’ve done better with my positioning and anticipating the ball.

“I’ve got to dust myself down and go again against Northampton, I can’t dwell on it.

“If we can get back to basics and keep the ball out of our net it gives us a good platform.”

United’s one injury doubt is over skipper John Lundstram, who suffered a dead leg in the Bolton game.

If he is not risked, Appleton will have to decide between Liam Sercombe and Joe Rothwell to deputise.

The Cobblers are without Alex Revell (calf), Sam Hoskins (knee) and Gabriel Zakuani (hamstring).

TODAY’S LINE-UPS

Northampton Tn: from Smith, Buchanan, Diamond, Phillips, Nyatanga, McCourt, O’Toole, Taylor, Richards, Smith, Williams, P Anderson, Beautyman, Wylde, K Anderson, Boateng, McDonald, Moloney, Cornell.

Oxford Utd: from Eastwood, Edwards, Nelson, Dunkley, Johnson, Hall, Sercombe, Ruffels, Maguire, McAleny, Hemmings, Martinez, Rothwell, Lundstram, Raglan, Skarz, Ribeiro, Stevens.