STUART Findlay is relishing playing alongside Elliott Moore, and feels their partnership at the back is beginning to blossom.

Oxford United are unbeaten in their last eight matches in all competitions, with the duo starting alongside each other for seven of those games.

In those seven matches Findlay and Moore have played together, United have conceded just six goals.

The only game during the unbeaten run which didn’t see the duo start together was the 1-1 draw at home to Forest Green Rovers, when Moore missed out with an ankle knock.

In his place, Sam Long partnered Findlay, and the 27-year-old believes he and Moore are getting a better understanding of each other’s game as they progress through the season.

“I’ve really enjoyed playing with Elliott, he’s a big guy to miss,” said Findlay.

“It was noticeable [when Moore was unavailable for the Forest Green match].

“He’s someone I rate very highly, I think we work well together.

“I know his game well enough now that I know when he needs me over or when he needs me wider.

“You get that understanding, and playing with Elliott, you know he’s going to be absolutely dominant in the air and win every tackle he goes in for.

“If the ball goes over him, I’d like to think I can be there to sweep around for him and cover up – I think that’s something that works really well.

“It’s something I’ve really enjoyed and it’s really important to get partnerships in football, it builds a solid base.”

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While the club’s defensive record has been relatively solid this season – United have conceded 21 goals in 19 Sky Bet League One games this season – they have only kept two clean sheets in the league this campaign.

Those came in the wins at home to Cambridge United and Port Vale, on August 6 and November 12 respectively.

The U’s also kept a clean sheet when they beat Leyton Orient 5-0 in the Papa John’s Trophy earlier in the season, a match in which Findlay opened his United goalscoring account with a second half header to put his side 4-0 up.

Ensuring he and his teammates keep out the opposition on a more regular basis though, is something Findlay acknowledged.

The former Kilmarnock man said: “We’ve not had a lot of clean sheets but we don’t concede a lot of goals.

“I think it’s obvious that comes down to good partnerships at the back, and it’s one I’ve really enjoyed playing in.”