OXFORD City’s strong defence has been the key to their recent unbeaten run, according to caretaker-manager Mark Jones.

City host high-flying Dartford tomorrow in Vanarama National League South, looking to extend a three-match unbeaten run in which they have conceded just twice.

Last month’s 4-0 defeat at Welling United was a low point in City’s season, but marked the start of a new-found resilience in defence.

“Our desire to keep the ball out of the net since then has been fantastic,” said Jones.

“You have to give credit to players like Lee Henderson and Jean Niate for their attitude and application to make that happen.

“Yes, we want to get forward and create chances, but the defensive side is a crucial part of the game as well.

“The ideal is obviously to do both sides of the game well, but if you can keep the goals against down to one or none every week, you’re always in with a chance.”

Henderson has played his part at both ends of the field, heading the winner in last week’s 1-0 home win over Hemel Hampstead Town.

And Jones was quick to praise his captain.

He said: “Lee has been tremendous for the last couple of months.

“I made him captain when I took over, because he’s a player who really leads from the back.

“He’s been here for three or four years now, so he knows the club well and he’s been very impressive of late.”

Jones has an unchanged squad to choose from this week, with the suspended Freddie Grant the only absentee.

And despite his praise for his side’s defensive prowess, the City boss will take a more attacking approach this weekend.

“There’s no pressure on us,” he said.

“I’d like the players to just go out and express themselves and cause Dartford a few problems.”

TOMORROW’S SQUAD

Oxford City (v Dartford, home): from Hill, Poku, Henderson, Davies, Fleet, Ngathe, Fondop, Louis, Ngamvoulou, Peake-Pijnen, Niate, Khawaja, Anderson, Carvalho, Forde.