Oxford boss Liam Manning has labelled Wanderers “extremely dangerous” ahead of Saturday’s League One clash.

The Whites will be aiming to maintain their place in the play-off places when they make the trip to the Kassam Stadium.

Meanwhile, Oxford are desperate for points as they battle to beat the drop and maintain their third tier status.

Manning, who took charge last month following the departure of long-serving boss Karl Robinson, is expecting a tough test against Ian Evatt’s “well balanced side”.

“I think he’s done a terrific job there with the side he’s built, in terms of the attacking threat and quality they’ve got,” he told Oxford Mail.

“They’re a really well balanced side, they’ve got a good level of physicality but also some extremely technical players.

“If you look at the chances they create and the depth they’ve got in their attacking line-up, they’re extremely dangerous.

“It’s going to be a tough game but at the same point, we have to take the belief and the confidence that we can keep clean sheets and ultimately try to put the pressure on them by taking the ball and creating chances ourselves.

“Any of the games that we go into, you have to relish it, stand up, be brave and grab the opportunity. You have to back yourself and execute things with real conviction.”

Manning’s side were held to a goalless draw against Port Vale in their last outing and are now without a win in their last 14 matches – a run stretching back to January 21.

Wanderers suffered a 3-1 defeat when the sides met at the UniBol back in October despite Dion Charles’ second half strike.

The Whites ran out 3-2 winners on their last trip to the Kassam Stadium in February 2022, with Amadou Bakayoko scoring a dramatic late winner.

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