Duberry calls for fighting finish from Oxford United (From Oxford Mail)

Duberry calls for fighting finish from Oxford United

9:00am Wednesday 2nd May 2012 in Oxford Utd

Michael Duberry says it would be unforgivable for Oxford United to end the season on a low note this weekend, with qualification for the play-offs still a possibility.

The U’s wrap up their npower League Two campaign away at Port Vale on Saturday.

To finish in the top seven, Chris Wilder’s side have to win and Crewe Alexandra must lose at home to Aldershot.

Duberry has been dismayed by a winless run of six games since a 2-0 victory at Accrington Stanley last month, which has seen United slip from a position of dominance to become long shots.

The veteran centre back stressed the importance of finishing with three points.

He said: “The worst thing to happen would be if we went out on a whimper, lose up there and find out Crewe have lost – we’d never forgive ourselves.

“From a purely personal point of view, it shouldn’t be going on the last day of the season, with the quality and how we’ve done this season.

“Maybe we took our eye off the ball (after Accrington). I don’t think it’s that, we just haven’t been good enough over the last six games – it’s not play-off form.

“Our season has hinged on the last six games and we haven’t performed.”

As the most senior player in United’s squad, the 36-year-old is keen to do all he can this week to make sure they bounce back this weekend.

He said: “The manager can’t walk with his head down because everyone takes their tone off him and it’s the same with the senior players.

“If you get turbulence on an aeroplane and the air hostesses are sitting there scared, you think ‘Oh my God, there must be trouble’.

“So the manager as the pilot has to be positive and his lieutenants – the senior players – have to be as well.”