Being in drop zone 'extra incentive' - Rowett

Gary Rowett's side have won three of their 17 league matches this season

Oxford United manager Gary Rowett says being inside the Championship relegation places gives them "an extra incentive" as they prepare to welcome Ipswich Town on Friday.

A five-game winless run has left them in 22nd, a point adrift of safety after 17 games.

Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford their position does not change the mentality too much.

"A year ago when I joined that's exactly where we were," he said.

"I think the players don't overthink it as much. Maybe when they see that you are in there, then it maybe gives you an extra incentive to get out of there again.

"I don't think it's neccessarily a huge negative. We've performed quite well in the last two games, I think its circumstances of other teams winning around us.

"It's probably dragged the pack that's above us a little bit closer to everybody, making it more competitive at the bottom of the league anyway.

"But we don't want to be there, we want to try and change that, and the only way to change that is to win games of football."

Rowett's side held high-flying Middlesbrough to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday, and the 51-year-old is not overly concerned by their league position.

"We've not been far away, the performances have generally been pretty consistent," he said.

"It's just that last little bit, that last little moment of quality, or fortune, or a decision or whatever that means, to win a game and that's just eluded us the last few.

"(Being in the bottom three) simplifies the message in terms of wanting to win games of football, and the importance of the game, but I don't think it changes what we do on the pitch.

"I don't think it changes how we approach the game, or what Ipswich might do to us. It just heightens the importance of the game, and hopefully that's reflected in our performance."

Another home test against a promotion-chaser

This week's three games have come at home to Middlesbrough, away to strugglers Norwich City, and now they welcome fifth-placed Ipswich.

Kieran Mckenna's side will go into the match on the back of a goaless home draw with Wrexham, and three points at Hull City on Tuesday and Rowett says they are ready for the test.

"Ipswich are a very good side," he added.

"I know Kieran a little bit. I know he's a very talented young coach. They've got a good group.

"You can see how organised they are, and how well-drilled they are. They've got a decent sized squad where they can mix and match a little bit in games like this.

"The challenge doesn't change for us. It's a home game in which we've been incredibly competitive but without as many wins as we'd like, and we want to try and put that right."

Oxford's Northern Ireland defender Ciaron Brown came off after 81 minutes on Tuesday, but Rowett is hoping he will be fit enough to be involved.

"He's trained today. We'll assess him and see where he is, but at least he's out there, and we'll make a call as to whether we think he's 100%," Rowett said.

"It's always that sort of debate on a Saturday, Tuesday, and then a Friday. Do you try and change the dynamic of the team energy-wise?

"I think the team's had really good energy the last couple of games, and we've made a conscious effort to get a little more of that into the team, so I certainly don't want to lose that."