Michael Collins says Oxford United’s thrashing on their last away trip will act as a powerful motivation to get a positive result at Sixfields tonight.

The U’s crashed to a 5-1 defeat at Cambridge United ten days ago, which is still fresh in their minds despite Saturday’s 2-0 win at home to Tranmere Rovers.

Michael Appleton’s side remain in the bottom six and Northampton Town stand in mid-table after successive defeats.

Collins admits both teams should be higher, which adds an edge to the game.

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He said: “They will think they’re slightly underachieving, we know we’re massively underachieving, so it’s two teams that are probably in false positions from what they expect of themselves.

“The only way you can put that right is by putting in the performances, so there’s as much at stake for them as there is for us.

“Hopefully that incentive we’ve got now of never letting ourselves and the fans down like we did against Cambridge might just be the spur we need. But we’re not getting carried away, we know it’s going to be a very difficult game.”

One feature in Saturday’s win was up front, where Danny Hylton and Tyrone Barnett were played closer together.

Hylton set Barnett up for the opening goal and believes they can forge a dangerous partnership.

He said: “The more you play with someone the more you understand them, so let’s hope so.

“It was a good finish, Tyrone did very well and hopefully at Northampton he can repay the favour.”

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