DECEMBER’S record defeat will be on the minds of the Oxford United players who featured in the game when they visit Wigan Athletic for the reverse fixture tonight.

The 7-0 defeat just before Christmas was the U’s heaviest home loss in the Football League.

And while the make-up of the side has changed since then, making amends will be a source of motivation for the survivors.

Josh Ruffels started the game and will be in the squad tonight after shaking off a hamstring injury.

“We’re looking for a reaction from the last result we had against them – one of the worst I’ve ever been in,” he said.

“We weren’t on it on the day and we’ve changed our team quite a lot since then.

“Hopefully we can build on Saturday's win against Southend and get a result we really need.

“They had a tough time on Saturday against Rotherham (0-0) so might not be in a good place.

“We can build on that and try to put them under pressure and make them really work for it.

“You have to be confident going to places like that, otherwise they can really dominate.”

Canice Carroll was an unused substitute in December but is thought to be one of the players who could come into a reshuffled side tonight.

And the 19-year-old is relishing playing at the league leaders.

He said: “These are the games I look forward to, especially with it being away.

“It’s weird to say, but I prefer playing away from home because of all the aggro you get off the opposition fans.

“I thrive off it, so I’m looking forward to it.

“We’re going there to spoil the party and it’s a vital game for us. It’s a three-pointer that not a lot of people are expecting us to win.

“We do want revenge. It was a bad game that 7-0, watching on especially.

“They will want to play expansive football and try to scare teams into sitting back and not doing anything.

“That’s not what we’re about, we’re looking to win the game. We can’t wait.”

U’s boss Karl Robinson has already got a result at Wigan this season, with a depleted Charlton Athletic side claiming a 0-0 draw at the DW Stadium a week after Wigan’s thrashing of Oxford.

He said: “I heard comments coming out of their camp saying Oxford will be open and expansive and they have nothing to play for.

“They want us to be that way, because they’re a better team that way.

“I don’t fall into those traps, we’ll be compact and difficult to beat.

“If it’s a 0-0 draw I’ll take it now, but we’re looking to win and we think we have a way of doing that, even though we’re ringing a lot of changes.

“It’s been a difficult 48 hours trying to find the perfect blend of rest, recovery, availability and high energy.

“It’s not just about preparing for one game, managers have to forward-plan.

“I don’t think we’re underdogs.

“I never go into a game with the mentality that I think we’re weaker than the opposition.

“I think collectively over the course of the season we look worse than them, but I don’t think that on any given day we’re miles apart, even with all the changes that we’ll make.

“If the players think we’re underdogs they may as well stay at home and we’ll rest them.”