OXFORD City boss Mark Jones is confident his side will bounce back when they travel to Slough Town.

Their four-match unbeaten run in Vanarama National League South was ended in a last-minute defeat at Welling.

But Jones took heart from the performance and is confident of a reaction tomorrow.

He said: “We were satisfied with our performance levels on Saturday, and we probably deserved something from the game.

“When you get beaten by fine margins, it’s disappointing, and to concede in stoppage-time was gutting, but the lads are determined to bounce back tomorrow.”

City are set to welcome back Josh Ashby from a knee problem and new signing Carl Stewart, who had a slight hamstring strain.

However, Rob Sinclair and Abraham Eze are still

side-lined with a hamstring injury and dislocated shoulder respectively.

Meanwhile, midfielder Mike Atkinson is missing as he is on international duty for Belize, who are playing the Bahamas in a CONCACAF Nations League qualifier.

Defender Eddie Jones is also out, as he attends his brother’s wedding.

Jones added: “We remain very encouraged by our performance levels so far, especially as we’ve had a few out.

“We want to keep competing and challenging in the top half of the table, so we need to make sure we don’t end up too far off the play-off positions too early.”

Slough are another team who play on an artificial surface, and Jones believes that may play in City’s favour.

He said: “We’re looking forward to playing on another 3G.

“It’s obviously something that we are used to, and I’d like to think it allows us to play good passing football.

“I’m a big fan of these surfaces, and I know other teams aren’t, but I really think they will be more and more common in non-league football in the future.

“I’d certainly rather play on a 3G than a mud-bath in the middle of winter!”

TOMORROW’S TEAM

Oxford City (v Slough Tn, away): from King, Godwin-Malife, Jefford, Ruddick, Oastler, McEachran, Fleet, Ashby, Paterson, Tshimanga, Wiltshire, Stewart, Fasanmade, Grantham, Krasniqi.