GARY Rowett was full of praise for the ‘massive performance’ his Oxford United side put in to beat Sky Bet Championship title hopefuls Sheffield United.
The only goal of the clash at the Kassam Stadium came when the Blades failed to clear a long throw-in via Will Vaulks, allowing Siriki Dembele to prod in from close range seven minutes before half-time.
It was the second successive home game that a Dembele goal proved to be the match-winner following the 1-0 victory against Watford prior to the March international break.
U’s head coach Rowett was delighted with the efforts of his players against the high-flying Blades, while also highlighting the role a raucous home crowd played.
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He said: “It was a massive performance. From the word go, I felt we looked on it, we looked like we were up for the fight, and we looked like we wanted to make it a very competitive game.
“I felt that with the conditions, with the opposition we’re playing against, we had to make it a little bit scruffy and a little bit of a fight.
“I thought we started on the front foot, and we started very brightly. Of course we’ve got Vaulksy’s long throw, but apart from that, I thought we got into some really good positions as well.
“We know how good of a side they are, and at this stage of the season, it’s just about trying to get the results you need. It’s not about how they come about.
“One thing that did help, I thought the atmosphere was brilliant from the start. That makes such a massive difference to me, to the staff, and to the players.
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“I thought the crowd got behind us because they saw a team fighting with perhaps less tools than the likes of Sheffield United, but we certainly made them work.”
Rowett added: “When you’re having a bit of a scrap and a fight, it becomes a game of second balls and becomes a game where you’ve got to make sure you don’t drop in too deep.
“We did that a little bit in the second half, but I think that’s just maybe trying to be overprotective of the space, and a good team pinning you back in with good players.
“I thought we dealt with it well. I thought Jamie [Cumming] made a fabulous save in the first half. I was disappointed they got a shot in, but it’s a great save, and that was probably the moment where a big moment like that makes sure you don’t go behind.”
