OXFORD United's excellent form before the season was suspended will not help them in the Sky Bet League One play-offs, says Portsmouth's Lee Brown.

The U's were on a five-match winning streak when proceedings were halted back in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It saw Karl Robinson's side finish fourth after the EFL used an unweighted points per game formula to decide the final table, with goal difference putting them a place above Pompey.

Nearly four months have passed since the two sides last contested a competitive game, while the teams will have to adapt to playing behind closed doors.

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And Brown reckons this evening's first leg at Fratton Park will be a clean slate.

The left back told Portsmouth's newspaper The News: "Oxford are a good side and are in the play-offs for a reason.

"They were on a very good run before the lockdown but that was 12 weeks ago.

"All that matters is the here and now and it's like a mini-tournament.

"No team or no player is used to playing with no fans and being off for so long.

"We'll see which team copes with it best and the best team will go on to get promoted.

"They're a good side but I'm quietly confident. We are a good side and it'll be very tight, especially the first game, it usually is in the play-offs.

"You're there for a reason and there isn't much in it between the two teams."

He added: "In the play-offs, especially it's who prepares best and who will get over the barrier of there being no fans and that's who'll come out on top."