Ryan Clarke says that Oxford United will aim to use last week’s 0-0 draw at Morecambe as a springboard for success over Christmas – starting with tomorrow’s game against Northampton.

There was nobody happier to come away from the Globe Arena with a clean sheet than United’s goalkeeper.

The shut-out was the U’s first for ten games and Clarke is confident that having got back on track after a dire November, when Oxford lost all five games, his side can now really push on again.

“It’s no secret we had a bit of a dodgy November,” he said.

“But when the final whistle went last week, it wasn’t a sense of relief, but a real sense of satisfaction.

“It felt like the whole of November was put behind us.

“The boys in front of me were fantastic, throwing their bodies in front of things and really getting back to doing the things we did earlier in the season.”

Clarke said that the signs are good that United’s bad patch is over, because deflections that in November took the ball into the net, last week sent the ball into his hands.

He explained: “In November it seemed that nearly every set-piece or ball into the box was going in.

“We made sure on Saturday that we didn’t give away silly free-kicks and did everything we could to stop balls into the box.

“One shot took two deflections and ended up coming straight at me, and then even in the final minute when they had a free-kick, the deflection was kind.

“Those were the things that were going against us so hopefully our luck has changed a little bit.

“We were very pleased to get the point and now hopefully we can use that as a building block.”

Clarke knows that United’s home form will be critical, and having lost their last game at the Kassam Stadium to Cheltenham, a win tomorrow would be massive.

“We have got to play a lot of teams towards the top of the league at home in the second half of the season and our home form is going to be crucial,” he said.

“People sometimes come here and park the bus and take a point, but it’s up to us to get the results.

“Our fans are magnificent and have helped us win so many games here before, and hopefully they can play their part and help us get another three points on Saturday.