OXFORD United are splitting their last ten games into two blocks of five - with a points target for each batch.

The U's host fourth-placed Lincoln City tomorrow evening as they enter the final six weeks of the Sky Bet League One season.

Karl Robinson's side have suffered frustrating defeats to Blackpool and Northampton Town in the last five days, but remain just three points shy of the play-offs in 11th.

Read also: How many points Oxford United could need to make the play-offs

And United's head coach is reverting to a tried-and-tested method as he targets a place in the top six.

"It’s a big, big push," Robinson said.

“We’ve got two blocks of five, with a points tally in each one.

"Where we finish in the first batch sets our target for the last five.

"It’s small goals, but it’s better to focus the mind and it has worked in other years.”

Tomorrow's game sees former U's boss Michael Appleton bring the high-flying Imps to the Kassam Stadium.

The 45-year-old guided United to promotion from Sky Bet League Two in 2015/16, when he gave his side a target of eight points from each five-game block throughout the season.

Five years on, Robinson is keeping his desired total internal, but knows the U's cannot afford many more blank weeks.

He said: “We have an internal target and negative results will have a big impact on us.

"We understand what needs to be achieved in each block and we know what we can and can’t do.

"The players are fully aware of the situation and I’m sure they’ll give me everything."