Mark Harris says Oxford United have momentum with them as they push for a League One play-off place. The striker, who has scored four goals this season, made the claim after a resilient 1-1 draw at Mansfield Town where the side finished with nine men.

Harris believes the team should have won that game. "We've got momentum with us," he said. "We've had just one loss all season and in the game on Thursday if we got the penalty that we should have got and kept all of our players on the pitch, then I think we win that game. It was a tough one to take, but the character we showed with nine men was massive."

Harris on form and confidence

His scoring rate of a goal every other game is a solid return in a demanding division. Harris, who played 37 times in the Championship last season before relegation, said the demands of League One remain substantial. He described it as a league that requires consistent effort and fighting for every ball.

"It's no walk in the park compared to the Championship, my scoring record's been OK so far," Harris said. "I'll take my current scoring rate of one every other game across the season. I'm feeling confident and the team is creating chances." His form has also earned him a recall to the Wales national team, a source of great pride for the forward.

Team unity and promotion ambition

With three consecutive home games on the horizon, Harris stressed the collective effort needed to achieve the club's central aim. "We're all in this together, the players and staff and we all have one aim [promotion] so hopefully we can do that," he said.

Oxford United's position in the League One standings supports his optimism. The club sits eighth with 18 points from nine games, just four points behind leaders Stockport County. Their recent form shows a five-match unbeaten streak, including a 2-1 victory over Wigan last time out. The team has also shown defensive resilience, conceding only eight goals so far this campaign.

The immediate test of that momentum comes this Saturday at home to Bradford City, who are currently third in the table. That fixture on 24 October represents the next critical step in the promotion campaign. Harris acknowledged the quality of the opposition but reiterated his belief in the squad's capabilities.

Background and full detail: bbc.co.uk