CAMERON Brannagan says Oxford United will take a winning mentality into tonight’s clash with Crystal Palace.
A U’s victory in the Carabao Cup second round would be even more remarkable with a third of their first-team squad missing through injury.
But Brannagan insists he and his teammates think they can stage an upset.
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“I believe we can win every game,” the midfielder said.
“I’m confident in the team and you’ve got to have that belief – there’s no point going into a game thinking ‘it’s a good side, I don’t think we’re going to win’.
“We’d never think like that.”
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The U’s knocked out Sky Bet Championship side Swansea City in the first round, with Brannagan scoring a 93rd-minute equaliser and the final penalty in the shoot-out.
The 26-year-old has enjoyed some memorable nights in the competition and one game during United’s run to the quarter-finals in 2019/20 sticks out.
He said: “West Ham was the best one, we went out and enjoyed ourselves and managed to win 4-0.
“There have been some good cup nights, hopefully the fans will get right behind us.
“You want to compare yourself against the best, we look forward to these games. It's an opportunity to prove ourselves.”
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The third-round tie against West Ham in 2019 is United's most recent win over Premier League opposition in a competitive game.
Fast forward three years and it briefly looked like the U's would start the season without Brannagan as he came close to leaving for Blackpool, only to sign a new three-year contract instead.
Results so far have not reflected his and the club’s ambitions, but the midfielder remains convinced he made the right call.
“It (the day) was carnage, but it was probably the best decision I’ve made in my career up to now,” he said.
"I’m more than happy here and everybody knows that.
"I was buzzing to sign a new contract, I keep saying that I do want to get out of this league with the club.
“I know it’s not been the greatest of starts, but I believe that we can build on what we’ve done.”