OXFORD City manager Mark Jones admits he is baffled by his side’s slump in form.

A run of four straight Vanarama National League South defeats was ended with a battling 2-2 draw at Eastbourne Borough last Saturday.

But City then produced a disjointed performance to go down 1-0 at home to Welling in midweek.

Jones’s side travel to Truro City tomorrow desperate to break their duck this year.

“It was a very disappointing evening against Welling,” he said.

“We started well, but when the penalty went in, you just saw our heads dropped. It just knocked the stuffing out of us.

“There was just no reaction to the goal. We didn’t create another good opportunity, and we lacked the quality.”

City will be without suspended goalkeeper Craig King following his sending off last week, while influential midfielder Zac McEachran is ruled out with a recurrence of his knee injury.

Steven Caro, who replaced King following his red card, will deputise, while Craig Fasanmade has been recalled from a brief loan spell at Thame United.

Ben Jefford (ankle) remains sidelined.

Jones said: “Zac is really struggling at the moment.

“He’s not right. He’s conscious of his knee problem and he won’t be fit for Truro which is a big blow.”

Tomorrow’s opponents are in the lower reaches of the table, but Jones knows with his side lacking confidence it will be a tight match.

“This isn’t just the players, it’s got to come from me as well,” he said.

“They need some leadership. The buck stops with me, and I need to find a formula to get us back to winning games of football.

“We are not looking threatening enough as a group, and that’s been the story of the last month.

“Confidence is very difficult to get and an easy thing to lose.

“When you’re on a run like we are, you must, by hook or by crook, battle to try to win a game.

“I’m sure we will give a hard-working and honest performance and just hope that something turns for us.”

He added: “We played Truro before Christmas and beat them, and so they will be looking to get revenge.

“It’s a long journey down, and we will prepare as professionally as we can. We need to get together and keep going.”

TOMORROW'S TEAM

Oxford City (v Truro City, away): from Caro, Jones, Moore-Azille, Dielna, Oastler, Ashby, Fleet, Wiltshire, Tshimanga, Thomas-Asante, Case, Self, Bawling, Fasanmade.