JOHNNY Mullins says a big turnout from Oxford United supporters could prove vital as they look to get one step closer to automatic promotion against Luton Town tomorrow.

Michael Appleton’s men have only three games remaining at the Kassam Stadium – and it is their first since 34,000 U’s fans watched them at Wembley in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final earlier this month.

A crowd of about 9,000 is being forecast for the clash with Luton, when a win would pile the pressure on the sides attempting to chase down the U’s in the race for a top-three spot in Sky Bet League Two.

They have produced some memorable displays at home, especially in cup games this season, and Mullins stressed just how important the atmosphere had been.

“Massively, I can’t emphasise that enough,” the defender, who is captaining the side with Jake Wright only on the bench, said.

“When we’ve had big crowds, it’s brought out the best in the team.

“If that could add the one per cent that makes the difference on Saturday it would be nice to say ‘we’ve all done that together’.

“I’d have to say the highlight was Swansea (in the FA Cup) for the occasion and if we can get anywhere near that it would be nice.”

United opened up a four-point gap on fourth-placed Bristol Rovers thanks to a 5-1 thumping of Crawley Town last Satur-

day.

Many supporters will have been studying the remaining fixtures involving the rivals to try and work out the magic total required to secure promotion.

It has been a long week since Crawley for Mullins, who has had to work hard to distract himself from thinking too much about the permutations.

He said: “I’m trying to do things at home to keep me switched off from it because you’re sat there watching the telly and you start thinking ‘if we do this, then that will happen’.

“It’s natural, the excitement is there.

“You just want Saturday to come so we can make the table look even better.

“I did look at the fixtures that are coming up you think ‘they will win that one’ but you’ve only got to look at our game against Stevenage.

“When someone gets sent off after ten minutes that result doesn’t go for you.

“The good thing for us is we have put ourselves in a situation where it doesn’t matter what anyone else does.

“If we get the points we need we will get the job done.”

UNITED'S HIGHEST HOME LEAGUE ATTENDANCES 2015-16

Exeter City 9,683

Northampton Tn 9,559

Bristol Rov 9,492

Portsmouth 9,093

Stevenage 7,980