Oxford boss Karl Robinson opposes Portsmouth's big-game approach and insists 'hurting' Blues will want play-off 'payback'

But that’s not a view shared by U’s boss Karl Robinson.

The Oxford manager believes ‘payback’ will most certainly be on the Blues’ agenda when he takes his side to back to Fratton Park (7pm kick-off).

The Kassam Stadium outfit renew their rivalry with Pompey nearly five months on from their League One play-off semi-final double-header.

On that occasion, nothing separated the two sides after 210 minutes of football, with penalties required to see who would progress to meet Wycombe for the chance to claim the one remaining place in the Championship.

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As we all know, the Blues lost out in the subsequent shootout, condemning them to another year in the third tier.

Meanwhile, the U’s went on to suffer a similar fate as they lost 2-1 to Wanderers at Wembley.

League One is therefore the setting once more for their latest match-up.

And while the Pompey camp are concentrating on the future and building on the form that has seen them rise to fourth in the table, it appears Robinson isn’t buying such a approach.

He firmly believes events from July will still be on Blues minds – and that will be key to Kenny Jackett’s tactics heading into the game.

Robinson told the Oxford Mail: ‘Their message is almost written – "they knocked you out of the play-offs and stopped you achieving your goals”.

‘They’ll see that as the chance for a bit of payback.

‘Their team will be hurting from the summer.

‘I’m sure that’s going to have a key role in their thought process.’

Centre-back Rob Atkinson concurred with the thoughts of his manager.

He said: ‘If you flip it the other way and we’d been knocked out in the semi-finals we’d be itching to get back at Portsmouth.

‘We can’t expect anything else than them being out for revenge.

‘We’ve got to prepare the right way.’

Oxford go into tonight’s game sitting in 19th spot – outside the relegation zone on goal difference.

Meanwhile, Pompey – the division’s form team – sit fourth, a point behind second-placed Peterborough and four adrift of leaders Hull.

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