JAMES Constable believes Oxford United’s win over Northampton Town sets them up perfectly for a crunch period of the season.

The U’s ended a four-game winless streak with a deserved 2-1 victory over npower League Two’s in-form side on Saturday.

United travel to Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup second round on Saturday, before facing Plymouth Argyle in the Southern Section quarter-finals of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy three days later.

And with attention now turning away from the league, Constable said the squad were aware of what a big victory it might prove to be.

“It was a tough couple of weeks,” said the striker, who is known as Beano. “But it was a very satisfying win, especially with them coming here on such a good run.

“It’s very nice that we can now go into the two cup games on the back of a win.”

Constable, who scored the opening goal, admitted it was particularly pleasing to see some hard work on the training ground carried over into the match.

And that, he felt, was just reward for the effort the squad have put in.

“It was a big game for us and, having not been on a great run of late, it was important we put it right,” he said.

“We could easily have settled for a draw after they equalised, but we really wanted to win that game which is a very good sign.”

He added: “We have been working so hard in training and I think we deserved it.

“I might have been half a yard offside (for the goal), but we earned a bit of luck for once.

“We have got some big players back of late and it makes a big difference having them in and around the squad.

“Hopefully that win will give us all confidence to take up to Accrington on Saturday.”