Rowett 'won't prioritise' any fixtures in run-in

Gary Rowett says Oxford United won't be prioritising any games over others as they fight to retain their Championship status.

The U's are seven points and four places above the relegation zone with 11 games remaining, the first of which is at play-off chasing Norwich on Friday (20:00 GMT).

Rowett's side will head to Hull City, one place below them, on Wednesday night in a potentially huge clash, but Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford: "We're fully focused on Norwich.

"We know these games are tough, but that's the challenge of the Championship. You know there are some games where you really have to step-up to try and get a result, and this is that type of game."

Oxford have taken 29 of their 38 points (76.3 per cent) in the league this season at Kassam Stadium, compared to just nine when playing on the road.

Rowett was asked if he should prioritise home games and those against teams in the lower reaches of the table but insisted: "If you think that you might as well put the reserves out and don't bother with the game – that would be ridiculous.

"Every game is an opportunity to try and win. As a head coach you have to try to find ways to do that.

"I would never do that, but some coaches maybe have the licence to be able to rotate their squad depending on the strengths of their team. I'd suggest that's maybe the top-six teams, everyone else is concentrating on winning the next game.

"Sometimes you accept away from home that you're not always going to win and, if you can get a draw, those points help you ticking along, providing your home form is strong, which is has been for the majority of the time since we've been here."

Rowett said he "took the positives" out of Saturday's battling 3-2 home defeat to upwardly-mobile Coventry and added: "We should have got something out of that game, in my opinion, and that's a side who have won eight out of nine.

"Norwich are a good side, they score goals, particularly at home, and they are versatile. These are certainly the games we need to get more out of, away from home in particular."