JAMES Constable is hoping a game against one of his favourite opponents will trigger an end to his wait for a goal.
Oxford United’s top scorer has not scored in his last nine appearances, the 29-year-old’s longest dry spell since October 2012.
The fixture list could provide a boost to the No 9, with AFC Wimbledon arriving at the Kassam Stadium tomorrow.
Constable has enjoyed facing them in the past, with his header in United’s 2-0 win last October the fourth goal in five starts against the Londoners.
He said: “Wimbledon are one of those teams that I seem to do well against.
“As a striker you always focus on the team you’re coming up against.
“When you hear what their starting line-up is going to be, you do think about positions you’ll get into, but every game is the same – you want to score and play the best you can.”
- Action from AFC Wimbledon v Oxford earlier in the season
The lean spell has coincided with a barren patch in front of goal the team in general, with just two goals scored in their last five league games.
It is not uncharted territory for Constable, who has bounced back from similar spells before.
He said: “You just look back at times where you’ve had it through your career.
“You’re watching games back and thinking ‘could I have changed that run?’, but at the time when you’re out there you are just doing what you think is the right thing to do.
“It is difficult for the lads who are defending so well and keeping clean sheets, they need us at the other end to stick the ball in the back of the net to make their jobs a bit easier.
“You want to be scoring every game, so when you go a few games without doing that it does play on your mind.
“You just need to stay focused and stick with what you’ve done throughout your career to get goals.”
CONSTABLE’S TOP OPPONENTS
Barnet 5
Grays Athletic 5
Mansfield Town 5
AFC Wimbledon 4
Histon 4
Forest Green Rovers 4
Rushden & Diamonds 4
Bristol Rovers 4
Plymouth Argyle 4
Morecambe 4
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