OXFORD boss Michael Appleton reckons Charlie Wyke has added a “different dimension” to City’s play.

Appleton has had Stuart McCall’s number so far this season after inflicting a first league defeat of the season on the Bantams in October and then dumping them out of the last eight of the Checkatrade Trophy.

Wyke completed his £250,000 move from Carlisle on the same day of that knock-out loss at the Kassam Stadium.

And U’s boss Appleton admits his presence could mean a different City to the side he has twice conquered.

Appleton, pictured above, said: “The style that Bradford play will certainly suit us but they have got a different dimension to the times that we have played them earlier in the season.

“Adding the boy Charlie Wyke up top certainly has given them an opportunity to play more direct if they feel they need to – it’s not something they do all the time, but it gives them a good option.

“I think the atmosphere will be great, with it being Good Friday I imagine there will be a lot of people at the game.

“It’s a great opportunity to go somewhere where the opposition haven’t lost for about 14 months at home so there’s a little bit of extra motivation for the players and obviously we’re going to make them aware of that.

“The approach is no different to any away game other than that we are playing a top side.”

Oxford’s play-off hopes may look a long shot now after slipping away in recent weeks. But Appleton is refusing to give it up as a lost cause just yet, however unlikely it appears from seven points off sixth spot.

He added: “You always try to find the positive in everything, perhaps it’s me living in my little dream world.

“If I’m a player in our dressing room right now I’m thinking ‘in two games’ time with two wins where does that sit with us?’

“We’ve then got to go and play Millwall knowing that they’ve got to go to Bristol Rovers on the final game of the season.”