PHIL Edwards believes Oxford United will have to show plenty of grit tonight if they are to avoid becoming bogged down on a poor playing surface at Oldham Athletic.

The U’s are aiming for a club-record sixth away league win on the spin, following Saturday’s 2-1 success at Peterborough United.

With sixth-placed Millwall not in action, another victory would cut the gap to the Sky Bet League One play-off places to just three points.

But to do that, United will have to overcome the pitch at Boundary Park, which will make it difficult for Michael Appleton’s side to play to their strengths.

Edwards said: “I’ve seen the state of it on TV, but it’s the same for both teams.

“We know it will be a physical game and we’re going to have to be up for a battle.

“We know it’s not going to be a pretty game. It’s just about grinding out results at this time of the season.

“Sometimes you’ve got to win ugly, that’s what champions do.”

He added: “This is one opportunity we have to take because we’re running out of chances.

“If we win, it’ll hopefully put a bit of pressure and make the sides above feel the heat.”

The surface will have an impact on selection, with Joe Skarz among those who could be brought into the side.

U’s assistant head coach Derek Fazackerley said: “You anticipate a different style to Saturday, so that will come into it.

“One or two players were asked to do a job at Chesterfield (a 4-0 win last month) and I’m sure if they were asked to do another one at Oldham they’d be quite capable of achieving a similar result.”

Lee Croft is banned for Oldham, but they do have Brian Wilson available after a suspension and the fit-again Rob Hunt is expected to return at left back.

TONIGHT’S LINE-UPS

Oldham Ath: from Ripley, McLaughlin, Clarke, Gerrard, Hunt, Green, Banks, Obadeyi, O’Neill, Flynn, Holloway, Erwin, Fane, Osei, Edmundson, Law, Reckord, Kettings.

Oxford Utd: Eastwood, Edwards, Dunkley, Nelson, Skarz, Sercombe, Lundstram, Ledson, Maguire, McAleny, Hemmings, Martinez, Hall, Johnson, Rothwell, Ruffels, Raglan, Ribeiro, Stevens.