ALEX Gorrin admits Oxford United will barely have time to draw breath as their congested calendar continues.

The U’s travel to Ipswich Town today (3pm) with 20 Sky Bet League One games to fit into the final 11 weeks of the season.

Both sides have realistic ambitions of the play-offs, with United eighth in the table and within two points of the top six.

The Tractor Boys are three points and three places further back, but plenty can change with matches coming thick and fast.

OPINION: Draws can be as valuable as wins for Oxford United in coming weeks

United host fourth-placed Portsmouth on Tuesday, but Gorrin, 27, knows they cannot even look that far ahead until today’s game is over.

The midfielder said: “We’re right in the mix, we just need to keep picking up points.

“Don’t focus too far ahead, the games are coming so fast we’ll be done before we know it.

“We can’t get caught up in the emotion.

“We talked about it the other day.

“It’s two games a week, that’s why you can’t get too high or too down.

“We’ve just got to stay level and concentrate on what we need to do, which is win football matches.

“There’s so many games that sometimes it’s not going to be pretty.”

United’s trip to Portman Road falls almost a year to the day after last season’s visit, when they had played 31 League One matches – five more than their tally this time around.

LISTEN: United's last visit to Ipswich and what it meant for the club

The campaign was halted less than three weeks later due to the coronavirus pandemic, causing this term to begin on September 12 and contributing to the packed schedule.

United’s slow start meant they were 19th before their goalless draw against Ipswich at the Kassam Stadium on December 1.

That game, however, began the U’s current run of 30 points from 13 League One matches.

January loan signings Brandon Barker and Elliot Lee have helped United keep that form going and Gorrin has been impressed.

He said: “They give us something different.

“We’ve got competition for places all over the pitch – we’ve got a squad, not just a team.

“That’s what gets you out of this league.”

Lee will be available after a tight calf kept him out of Tuesday’s Papa John’s Trophy defeat to Tranmere Rovers, but boss Karl Robinson hinted that some other players could be doubtful.