OXFORD United know there are no shortcuts if they want to achieve their goals this season, says Steve Seddon.

The U’s travel to Lincoln City this afternoon (3pm) as they aim to continue their Sky Bet League One promotion push.

Fifth-placed United have played some excellent football this season, but have also shown the ability to grind out results.

That hard work is encapsulated in Seddon’s driving runs up and down the left flank and the 24-year-old insists this is all part of the job.

“I do enjoy getting up and down, that’s part of my game – I can’t really lose that,” he said.

“We’re a hard-working team, but that’s standard.

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“If you want to finish high up the league you’ve got to work hard.

“It’s a good group and we put the hours in – it’s not like a nine to five job, but you’re always in and around it.”

The left back brought his dog to United’s Christmas Eve run up Shotover Hill and she was equally energetic, leading the group through a series of drills.

It was a light-hearted way to work, but Seddon points out that it showed a positive atmosphere.

He said: “I didn’t have to walk her that day, I could just shoot straight home.

“It’s good to have that sort of environment because it makes you want to work harder and brings you together as a group.

“A lot of the boys know about my dog, she just runs and runs.”

United have five successive Saturday games in January, and no midweek matches, with today’s trip to Sincil Bank followed by clashes with Wycombe Wanderers and Sheffield Wednesday.

Seddon admits this can be a blessing and a curse, though.

He said: “They’re all big, you’re in the second half of the season.

“Sometimes it works with you, sometimes against you with the games thinning out.

“If you’re on a roll you’ve got to wait a whole week and if you lose it puts more pressure on the next one – you can’t get it out of your system quickly.”

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The U’s will aim to strengthen their promotion push against a side who were 90 minutes from the Sky Bet Championship in May.

Seddon added: “They were play-off finalists last year, I remember watching that.

“As a club they’ve not had the best season, but a lot of their players are still there from last year.”