MARK Jones says Oxford City can ill-afford to feel sorry for themselves ahead of tomorrow’s fixture at home to high-flying Billericay Town.

The side are still searching for their first league win of 2019, while last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at Truro City saw them slip to 14th.

With promotion-chasing Billericay presenting another tough test this weekend, Jones’s men, who have not found the net at Court Place Farm since January 1, are faced with another tough test.

But City’s boss is calling on his side to dig deep and recapture the form which took them inside the Vanarama National League South play-off places in December.

He said: “We simply have to stay positive and keep working the ball into the right areas.

“We appear to have lost the ability to score in recent weeks.

“But there’s no point in feeling sorry for ourselves and thinking the world is against us – we simply have to work hard to get out of this rut.”

Billericay are on a five-match unbeaten league run.

But City produced one of their best performances of the season to beat the Essex side 3-2 in December.

Jones added: “It’s always tough to get out of a rut, and Billericay are on an excellent run.

“But we’ve seen on many occasions in this league, anyone is capable of beating anyone on their day.”

City’s form has not been helped by injuries to Zac McEachran (knee) and Ben Jefford (ankle).

Neither will play a part this weekend and Jones admitted reinforcements may be needed in their continued absence.

He said: “Zac is really struggling.

“We continued to play him, because he is our most creative player, but clearly there is a problem that isn’t getting any better, and we need to look after him.

“With the injury he’s been carrying, he’s not been able to play with the freedom he is capable of, but we do miss his creativity when he’s out of the side.

“Ben is progressing slowly, but he’s not yet back in full training, so we probably need to look at adding a few faces to bolster the squad for the run-in.”

City are boosted by the return of goalkeeper Craig King ater a one-match ban.

TOMORROW’S SQUAD

Oxford City (v Billericay Tn, home): from King, Jones, Moore-Azille, Dielna, Oastler, Ashby, Fleet, Wiltshire, Tshimanga, Thomas-Asante, Case, Self, Bawling, Fasanmade, Caro.