JAKE Wright believes the problems which have threatened to derail Oxford United’s automatic promotion bid have galvanised the squad ahead of today’s clash with Hartlepool United.

A home defeat to Luton Town and an away draw at Newport County have seen their four-point cushion over fourth place in Sky Bet League Two this time last week whittled down to just goal difference.

The stuttering form has come amid a flurry of injuries and illnesses which have affected more than half of United’s strongest XI.

With their rivals all in better form Wright knows there will be many people thinking Michael Appleton’s men are lame ducks in the promotion race.

But United’s skipper intends to use it as motivation when he leads them out at the Kassam Stadium this afternoon.

“In a weird kind of way I like it when everything’s against you,” he said.

“Other teams and maybe fans are looking and thinking ‘they’ve blown it’, that’s when you stick together and show what you’re made of and what you’re about.

“I think we’ve done that all year and as a team we’ll definitely do that on Saturday.

“We’ve got three games and I think we’ll need six or seven points to get us over the line.

“There’s no reason we can’t do that.”

Home wins have been hard to come by in 2016, with their only league successes against the division’s bottom two.

There was a tense atmosphere last weekend after United squandered a lead to lose 3-2 against Luton Town, and there could be a similar mood today.

Wright said: “I think it’s harder to watch than be involved. But the players are raring to go.

“Obviously there are going to be nerves flying about, but that’s natural and sometimes that’s a good thing.

He added: “We need to start well, get a lead and that helps the fans.”

“Whatever happens on Saturday it isn’t over, so we’ve got to remember that.”