THE old football cliche of taking each game at a time is serving Oxford United well, says Elliot Lee.

The U’s continue their late bid for a Sky Bet League One play-off place against Gillingham this evening (5.30pm), with the visitors just three points behind.

It should be a special day for the Luton Town loanee, who is set to face older brother Olly for the first time.

A defeat would tarnish the personal memories and spoil a brilliant week for seventh-placed United, after they forced themselves back into the play-off picture with big wins over Crewe Alexandra and Shrewsbury Town.

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The U’s remain outsiders for the top six, but Lee revealed that has focused the mind.

“I said after the two Easter results that we’ve just got to keep winning games,” the 26-year-old said.

“When we had seven to play we said ‘win the next seven’, now we have five so it all comes down to the next game.

“It’s a funny game, football – people had us written off a week or two ago, but a few results went for us the other night.

“We’re in the mix and who knows what could happen.”

The forward and his brother, a 29-year-old midfielder, were in West Ham United’s youth set-up at the same time and were at Luton during the club’s 2017/18 Sky Bet League Two promotion campaign.

But they have never been on opposite sides of a competitive game.

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“I haven’t played against him, apart from in the back garden when we were younger,” Lee said.

“We’re like best mates, but when it comes to winning something there’s a big brotherly rivalry.

“It’s been like that since we were kids.

“We both want to win and it’ll be no different on Saturday.”

Lee hopes dad Rob, himself an ex-England international, will attend today’s game and is eager to impress.

He said: “I always say it’s a positive – not many people go home and get advice from someone who played 21 times for their country.

“He always tells me when I have a bad game, but he’ll always tell me when I do well.

“He has never put any pressure on me or my brother.”