Peter Leven is hoping history repeats itself tomorrow – and he gets the chance to take a penalty for Oxford United against Bristol Rovers.

The U’s have been awarded only two spot-kicks all season, Leven converting one of them against tomorrow’s opponents back in October.

The midfielder admits he finds it staggering that United have had so few opportunities from 12 yards this season.

And with the only other penalty being missed by Tom Craddock after he snatched the ball off Leven against Northampton, the U’s are due a change of luck.

Leven said it was something the players were discussing only the other day after seeing Charlton’s Johnnie Jackson score two in one game on Tuesday.

“I was talking to Tommy (Craddock) about this on the way to training today,” Leven said.

“The boy at Charlton, Johnnie Jackson, scored another two penalties against MK Dons.

“Even to get the amount they have is unbelievable, let alone score them. We’ve only had two all season.”

West Ham have been awarded eight spot-kicks in the Championship, while Luton can top that in the Conference, unbelievably having nine penalties, but scoring only two of them – six different players have missed.

“We have had a few good shouts, but they haven’t been given for one reason and another, but that’s the way it goes, you can’t do anything about it,” he added.

Leven is hoping that having beaten Dagenham on Tuesday despite not playing well, the U’s can produce a far more convincing display tomorrow, aided by a few more training sessions with their new signings.

“It had been a while since we had a game, and also playing on grass for the first time in a bit was different,” he said. “It’s not an excuse, but it makes a difference.

“In the second half on Tuesday we had Mark (Wilson), Mehdi (Kerrouche), Scott (Rendell), Oli (Johnson) and (Lee) Holmes – it was like ‘where is our team from a couple of weeks ago?’ “But the boys that came on did really well and made an impact and with more training, we will have a much better understanding of each other’s games now.

“I have had a good record at Bristol with MK Dons, and hopefully that can continue.”