ROADWORKS, motorway closures and getting home at 3am – these are the facts of life for anyone who travels to watch Oxford United away in midweek.

Having a win to celebrate, as the 318 travelling supporters who went to York City did on Tuesday, makes it easier, but crawling through miles of cones on the M1 can be a test of patience.

They were trials United’s players avoided, with the squad staying in the north ahead of tomorrow’s visit to Accrington Stanley.

It is a decision warmly welcomed by goalkeeper Sam Slocombe.

He said: “The lads appreciate the chairman (Darryl Eales) is willing to sanction this out of the budget.

“It just gives us our best opportunity of recovering properly for the Saturday game.

“There won’t be many clubs who would do the same as we are doing this week, but that just goes to show what the management and the board are doing and how professionally it’s being run.

“It’s crazy, there were times (at Scunthorpe) when we’ve gone down to Portsmouth on the day because we had played on a Tuesday night and that was when the club was in League One and the Championship.

“What they are doing is fantastic.

“It’s not so much putting pressure on, it’s making sure we do things right.”

Like many players, Slocombe has a few horror stories from midweek away trips.

“They can be disgusting,” he said.

“A couple of seasons ago we went from Scunthorpe across the M62.

“Coming back the motorway was shut and some of the lads had left their car at the services, so had to walk about a mile just to get them back.

“They were escorted out by the police, which was a bit awkward.

“They can be quite nasty with motorway closures, but the fans make the same journeys we do so I’m sure they understand getting home an hour later isn’t great for recovery, because I’m sure they feel worse for wear at work the next day.

“We’re honoured they make the trip to come and see us.”

The move offers a chance for players and staff to spend time with each other away from training, something which undoubtedly helped make the pre-season camp in Austria a success.

Slocombe said: “It can only benefit us in the way that the squad dynamics will improve, that’s not saying they’re bad now, they are very good but can only get better.

“You fully appreciate it and it probably brings you a bit closer together.”