MICHAEL Appleton believes Carlisle United will come to the Kassam Stadium confident of adding to Oxford United’s home woes.

With both sides embroiled in a scrap at the wrong end of the table, victory for either would provide a huge lift ahead of the final run-in.

Despite going five matches unbeaten recently, United have picked up just one win in their last nine home games.

And Appleton knows it is a situation the Cumbrians are likely to try and seize upon.

“I think from a confidence point of view, for both sides, and the opportunity to try and pull away from the bottom two with the games dwindling away as they are, I think it is a vital game,” he said.

“Without a shadow of doubt I will take a poor performance and three points.

“It’s going to be a tight game and there are sure to be a few nerves, but that’s how it will be at this time of the season – not just in our games, but in all games.

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“It’s the business end of the season now and everyone needs results. There is bound to be anxiety around, but the lads have to go into the game in a positive frame of mind.”

He added: “The million dollar question is ‘what is the magic formula at home’?

“I don’t think anyone has it, because from what I’ve been told it’s been the same for a good few years now.

“We just have to find a way of being positive. We don’t try to do things any differently away from home than at home, yet our away performances have been much better there’s no doubt about that.

“The fact we are at home means that Carlisle will probably be coming here believing they can win the game because of our record here this season.

“We have to be strong, stay together and sometimes you almost have to pretend you are playing on a neutral ground and forget what’s happened over the past three or four months.”