ALEX Mowatt says Oxford United must fancy their chances of springing a surprise when they visit Rotherham United tonight.

The Millers top Sky Bet League One’s form table, having won eight times in an 11-game unbeaten run.

They trailed the U’s at the start of December, but the superb run has catapulted Paul Warne’s side into the heart of the promotion race.

Confidence will be high after a 2-1 win at fellow top-six side Scunthorpe United on Saturday, while United were losing by the same scoreline at home to Bristol Rovers.

But Mowatt, who turns 23 today, knows the visitors are capable of upsetting the odds.

“They’re doing well at the minute, but every run has to come to an end at some time,” he said.

“Hopefully we can be that team to stop them.

“They will be confident going into the game and maybe thinking they’ve already won it, having seen us being inconsistent lately.

“In this league anyone can beat anyone. If they’ve not been beaten in 12 and we’ve been inconsistent then people won’t fancy us, but we’ve got to fancy ourselves and try to win.”

In addition to ending Rotherham’s fine run, United should be fired up to find a response in the wake of Saturday’s poor display.

It came a week after an excellent victory at Charlton Athletic, summing up the way the season has gone for the side.

Winger Isaac Buckley-Ricketts said: “The team is very motivated because to lose at home it always feels worse.

“Coming off a win away and losing at home is a tough one.

“The motivation levels are high because we need to get this winning form going.

“It’s been up and down emotionally.

“But your motivation levels have got to stay high because the next game comes quickly.

“No-one wants to get into a downward spiral of losing games.

“You don’t want to put teams on a pedestal, everyone is there to be beaten. “

The game will be played amid uncertainty created by United’s ongoing search for a manager, while there is also speculation over the club’s future ownership.

But Buckley-Ricketts, on loan from Manchester City, felt it was up to the players to block it out.

He said: “I think it’s worse when you focus on it too much.

“You have to stick together and not really focus on the other things.

“You can only let it affect you as much as you want it to.”