Oxford United’s Mark Harris on fruitful goal record vs Derby

The U’s travel to Pride Park having managed a clean sheet in a goalless draw in the East Midlands last season and winning there the season before in League One thanks to a Mark Harris brace.

Harris bagged a goal in the Yellows’ most recent game, coming off the bench to score a stoppage-time second goal in a 2-0 win over Watford.

“I have scored a couple of goals there so, hopefully, we can carry that on,” the Wales international said.

“But the most important thing is the team and the three points and, you know, business end of the season.”

Oxford United players urge goal scorer Mark Harris towards the crowd (Image: Jason Dawson)

Some of Oxford’s rivals have been picking up good results elsewhere, Portsmouth in particular surprising the Championship by beating two promotion-chasing sides in Middlesbrough and Ipswich Town of late.

“Only we can control how many points we finish on and no one else is going to help us,” Harris continued.

“Obviously…I’m not going to lie and say we’re not looking at other results.

Mark Harris fires Oxford United to a 2-0 win over Watford (Image: Oxford United)

“There’s four games left of the season and you want to see what’s going on around you. But at the end of the day, we’ve got to make sure we’re putting in the performance to get as many points for Oxford.”

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“We’ve probably been written off quite a lot this season. I think at one point there was a lot of: ‘They’re gone, they’re dead and buried’. But you know, mentality, determination in this group, you can see the run we’ve put together now.

“We’ve put ourselves in a good position. But that only matters if you take care of the last four games.”

Oxford United head coach Matt Bloomfield (Image: Jason Dawson)

When asked whether he was cheering Ipswich on in their defeat to Pompey on Tuesday night, Harris replied with a smirk: “Maybe once or twice.”

The Welsh centre forward has played in some big games lately. Not only has he been a consistent addition of the bench in the U’s crucial run-in so far, he also played in a huge World Cup play-off semi-final against Bosnia & Herzegovina last month.

“Experience is a big thing when you’re playing big games. You get used to it.

“You get your routine leading up to the game. And once you cross that white line, it’s just all about you, the teammates, and getting those points that you need. That’s it.”