OXFORD United have a great chance to steal a march on their rivals in the next few days if they can rediscover the winning habit, according to top-scorer James Henry.

Due to the Emirates FA Cup, several sides are not in Sky Bet League One action tomorrow when the U’s host Peterborough United, while Karl Robinson’s outfit cash in their game in hand at Accrington Stanley on Tuesday night.

Of the other teams in the bottom eight, Gillingham are the only other in action twice over the same period.

It represents a chance to open up a gap – but only if United can get over the winning line, which has proved a challenge so far this season.

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No side in League One have won fewer than their meagre total of seven, while despite some good displays in recent weeks they have only claimed three points once since mid-December.

Henry said: “We can’t take our foot off the gas at any stage.

“We’ve been performing well and picking up a lot of draws, but we

need to try to turn those into three points.

“We’ve managed to get our heads above water – just – so now we need to try to kick on.

“Especially in these next two games we’ve got an opportunity to open up a little gap between us and the bottom four.”

The meeting with Peterborough is the final leg of a tough sequence against promotion contenders at the Kassam Stadium.

It looked a daunting run, but United have risen to the challenge to beat Portsmouth and draw with Barnsley and Sunderland.

Read also: How many more points do Oxford United need to avoid relegation?

Henry, who scored both United’s goals in the 2-2 draw at Peterborough in December, said: “We’ve done a good job in those last three or four games and that’s what was needed, but we can’t rest.

“Everyone is aware deep down that the last 15 games is probably a relegation battle.

“Everyone would rather get it done sooner rather than later, so we can enjoy those last five or six games when the sunshine comes out and look forward to next season.

“But it’s so tight down there, I think everyone up to 12th is still in it.

“Two wins and you can be thinking ‘we’re safe’ and two losses and you could be thinking ‘we need to pick up some results again’.

“There will be a lot of twists and turns.”