Danny Rose believes last weekend’s results will give Oxford United a psychological edge as they visit fellow winless side Exeter City this afternoon.

The clash at St James Park is a meeting of the two lowest ranked clubs in the Football League.

But Rose believes the U’s, who fought back to draw 1-1 at Southend United a week ago, will go into the game with more confidence than City.

He said: “They lost 2-1 at home to Mansfield last week, so off the back of that there will be increased pressure to pick up a result.

“In terms of the table we’re exactly the same, but coming off the back of that really good 45 minutes at Southend, psychologically we’ve perhaps got an edge.

“We don’t want to have that reputation of being a team that plays nice football, but doesn’t pick up points.”

Both teams will be looking at the game as a chance to kickstart their season at the expense of their opponents, who would be left rock bottom by a fifth defeat in seven games.

But both bosses in the build-up have sought to play down the significance of their position at this stage of the season.

U’s head coach Michael Appleton said: “People are going to look at where the sides are in the league and use the phrase ‘six-pointer’.

“That makes me laugh trying to use that six games into the season.

“I’m sure they’ll come at us really strongly in the first ten minutes, so we’ll make sure we’re equipped for that.”

United are set to hand a debut to loan signing Tyrone Barnett, replacing the injured Will Hoskins (groin).

Joe Riley and Junior Brown, forced off last weekend with virus and hamstring problems respectively, are both expected to play.

The visitors will also be boosted by the return of Michael Collins.

The midfielder missed the trip to Southend after a health scare for his daughter, whose condition has since improved.

Exeter’s only injury is to long-term absentee Jamie Reid (pelvis), but manager Paul Tisdale yesterday signed former captain David Noble on loan from League One Oldham Athletic.

TODAY’S SQUADS Exeter City: Pym, Oakley, Baldwin, Moore-Taylor, Ribeiro, Grimes, Ser-combe, Woodman, Wheeler, Cummins, A Nicholls, Bennett, Keohane, Davies, Tillson, Butterfield, T Nicholls, Hamon, Noble.

Oxford Utd: G Long, Riley, Mullins, Wright, Newey, Collins, Ruffels, Jakubiak, Hylton, Brown, Barnett, Morris, O’Dowda, Potter, Rose, Raynes, Hunt, Crocombe.

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