PHIL Edwards believes the manner of Oxford United’s first home league defeat may have been the wake-up call the side needed.

The U’s welcome second-placed Bradford City to the Kassam Stadium tomorrow, six days after AFC Wimbledon came away with a 3-1 win in Sky Bet League One.

All the more disappointing was that the game was virtually over at the break, with the Dons opening up a 3-0 lead.

Edwards insists the defeat may have been a well-timed warning that United can ill afford to turn in a below-par performance.

The 30-year-old said: “Sometimes you need a kick up the bum – you can get too confident.

“Our morale is now a little bit down, but we have got to pick ourselves up because the games come fast.

“We have just got to look to Bradford and put a performance back on.”

The defender added: “In the first half (on Sunday) we did not do ourselves credit and if we don’t perform to the levels we have done we will get punished and lose games.

“We know we have got to be better.”

The Bantams are one of only three sides in the top five divisions still unbeaten.

But playing against the more established names holds no fear for United, following their victory at Bolton Wanderers a fortnight ago.

Edwards said: “People seem to raise their games against the bigger teams.

“But we have just got to look after ourselves and get back to playing the way we were previous to the first 45 minutes against Wimbledon.

“If we can do that then we’ll start to pick up results again.”