MARK Harris says Oxford United must pick their heads up and go again, ahead of what is set to be a crucial week in the club’s season.

The U’s enter the week off the back of suffering back-to-back defeats in Sky Bet League One for the first time this campaign, following losses against Barnsley and Bristol Rovers.

A huge reaction will be required from United, who welcome league leaders Portsmouth tomorrow night, before hosting Reading in an early kick-off on Saturday.

Sandwiched between those fixtures is the closure of the January transfer window at 11pm on Thursday.

Harris said: “We’ve got to relish it. Portsmouth at home, and if we get three points there, then this is all forgotten about, and we’re on the up again.

“It’s a big game for us on Tuesday, and we’ll be ready.”

Reflecting on the 3-1 defeat at Rovers, Harris said: “It’s obviously not a great result, but it’s over now and we’ve got to put that behind us.

“We’ve got to look forward to Tuesday. We’ve got a big game on Tuesday, and on Saturday to be fair.

“We know we weren’t good enough, and we know we let the fans down, but we’ve got to pick our heads up.

“There are 18 more games to go, and we’ve got to fight back, and show what we’re made of.”

At the weekend, Harris was awarded his 11th goal of the season, when Cameron Brannagan’s effort deflected off him and landed in the back of the net.

Harris said: “It came off me. It was a lucky one, but I’ll take it. I don’t think he’ll [Brannagan] agree. He shot and it hit me, and it offset the keeper.

“The keeper was going for Cam’s shot, but it’s hit me and gone in.

“At that point, we thought we could’ve got back, but they got the third and the win in the end.”