JOHN Lundstram knows Oxford United’s home form needs to be turned around in back-to-back clashes with high-flying opponents if they are to boost their flagging play-off hopes.

Fourth-placed Scunthorpe United visit the Kassam Stadium today, while Bolton Wanderers, in third, arrive on Tuesday.

United’s push into the fringes of the Sky Bet League One play-offs has been on the back of a five-game winning run on the road.

By contrast, they have collected three points on home soil only once since November, against Milton Keynes Dons last month.

Lundstram is well aware the run must change immediately, especially on the back of the midweek defeat at Oldham Athletic.

United’s captain said: “Our home form hasn’t been great of late.

“Thankfully we’ve made up for it on the road, although Tuesday wasn’t to be.

“We’re the same (as supporters) – we were going into the Oldham game thinking if we win we’re back amongst it.

“That’s football – you win one match and everyone’s up, lose and everyone’s down.

“We’ve just got to focus on the next game and if we get a result against Scunthorpe we’ll be looking to recover and go again on Tuesday.”

He added: “It’s going to be really tough (to make the play-offs), let’s not shy away from it.

“But we are more than capable. We’ve got the talent in the squad. I believe we can do it.”

While many sides in United’s position would be wary about facing two top-four teams, Michael Appleton’s men see it differently.

They have tended to perform better against the promotion contenders than those at the other end of the table.

Winger Marvin Johnson said: “As you could see we weren’t particularly great against Bristol Rovers (a 2-0 defeat) and then against the leaders Sheffield United we were a whole lot better, despite the result (a 3-2 loss).

“When we play the better teams it’s better for us because it’s more of a footballing game.

“We like to play as much as any of the teams up there. It suits us.”

ROB Hall missed out on the February goal of the month award in Sky Bet League One to Walsall’s Erhun Oztumer, who won the public vote.