KARL Robinson is embracing Oxford United’s history as the club stand on the verge of an unprecedented run.

If the U’s win or draw against Walsall on Saturday they will go 16 games without defeat in all competitions – beating their previous record for a single season as a Football League club.

That came during the 1990/91 season, when they went 15 games unbeaten in the old Division Two.

Since joining the club last March, Robinson has studied United’s past keenly and believes his players can benefit from doing the same.

The head coach said: “We speak constantly about what it takes to play for this football club.

“It does have an illustrious past.

“It’s so easily forgotten, because a lot of our players weren’t born (during United’s years in the top division).

“We just try and keep our head above water and keep being good people.

“We work every day to be better professionals and hopefully we carry that onto the football pitch.”

Read also: Oxford United striker Dan Agyei happy with his progression

United have gone more than 15 matches unbeaten in the same campaign only once since joining the Football League in 1962.

But that streak, which stretched to 19 games, came during the club’s first season in the Blue Square Premier – now the Vanarama National League – in 2006/07.

Since losing at Fleetwood Town on September 7, the U’s have climbed to sixth in Sky Bet League One, reached the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup and progressed in both the FA Cup and Leasing.com Trophy.

United’s impressive form means they are still fighting on four fronts, with the trip to Walsall starting a run of nine games in 33 days that will test the squad to its limit.

It is a far cry from the start of last season, when Robinson’s men won just one of their opening 11 league matches.

But the U’s manager feels that experience will give his side some useful perspective if they do lose their unbeaten record.

He said: “If we don’t carry it on, so be it – we won’t get too down if we get beat.

“There’s a calmness to us, which I enjoy. There’s never a lack of respect for winning.

“We certainly kept a level head last season when we weren’t winning.”