MICHAEL Appleton bemoaned Oxford United’s inability to build a strong run of results after admitting the past couple of weeks summed up their entire season.

The U’s appeared to be getting up a head of steam as an entertaining 1-1 draw with high-flying Luton Town on Saturday came hot on the heels of an excellent 2-0 win at Stevenage.

But the encouraging run hit the buffers on Tuesday night as they crashed to a 1-0 defeat at struggling Accrington Stanley, who bagged the winner in stoppage time.

It was symptomatic of a campaign which has stubbornly refused to take off, as the U’s head coach admitted.

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Appleton said: “It’s been the story of the season really, hasn’t it?

“That’s been the frustrating thing, we take a step forward and then two steps back.

“I said to the players we have to somehow grasp the responsibility as a group to make sure when you have positive performances and results, like we have done in the last few games, that we take it forward and keep going.

“Ultimately we’ve not been able to do that (at Accrington).

“That’s football, you have to make sure you stay on your toes because it’s got a funny way of slapping you on the backside.”

Up next for United is a daunting trip to second-placed Burton Albion on Saturday.

Appleton is hoping to have a new face in the squad before then, with a free agent midfielder expected at the club today.

The U’s boss knows it will be difficult at the Pirelli Stadium, but thought the context of the game would act as a spur to the players.

He said: “I suppose going to a side like Burton away from home they don’t come any tougher.

“It’s one of those games where as a manager you don’t have to do too much off the field to get them up for it.

"The game in itself is big enough.”

Will Hoskins made a successful return to action yesterday, scoring the only goal as the development squad won at Birmingham City.

The striker, who underwent a minor operation last month on a troublesome groin problem, played the whole game and volleyed home a 91st-minute winner.

Recent signings Jamie Ashdown and Jeremy Balmy played for the first time, while the XI also included two triallists.

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