By Jon Murray OXFORD United's loan keeper Richard Knight ended a traumatic month at the Manor on a high note in Saturday's local derby win at Wycombe - and then issued a "come-and-get-me" message to new boss Denis Smith.

The Derby County keeper, currently third choice at Pride Park, helped to exorcise the nightmare of his Oxford debut when he conceded five goals at home to Bristol Rovers, by stepping in as an emergency No 1 at Adams Park after Paul Lundin had to go off with a foot injury.

And Knight was as delighted as anyone when he and his teammates kept a clean sheet to earn a 1-0 victory, United's first in seven matches, thanks to a first-half winner from Joey Beauchamp.

"I don't know too much about Paul's injury at this stage, but if they give me a call because they want me to stay another week to cover for his injury, then I'd do so," Knight said.

"This was my last game because my month's loan is up, which is a bit disappointing. "In the summer I'd like to come back to Oxford. If there was an offer from them I'd definitely like to come - they're a good bunch of lads, the management team's good as well and I think we'll stay up this year - and hopefully next year, push for promotion."

Knight admitted: "I turned up expecting to be on the bench and stay on the bench. In the warm-up, Paul seemed to be struggling, but he went in and got a bit of treatment, so I wasn't expecting to play.

"My first appearance was a bad result. We were all very disappointed by that 5-0 defeat by Bristol Rovers but I didn't really think it was my fault.

"Today we were much better as a unit, were much tighter and for the first time since I've been here, we got a bit of luck and managed to get a goal."

In fact, the team appeared transformed under new manager Smith, and he was understandably delighted. "I was pleased with the attitude," he said. "They kept a great shape and the balance looked a lot better. And their workrate was superb.

"It was more like a cup-tie than a league game. The lads all worked tremendously hard which was highlighted by the goal with Joey battling his way through, and the finish.

"There were some very pleasing performances all round. I was pleased by their attitude, their workrate, their closing down - the horrible side to the game which people don't always appreciate. We did that very well."

New loan signing Craig Russell added a different dimension as well with his pace, control and movement. Smith said: "Craig didn't have a lot of service, but he was instrumental in the goal, and he then nearly got another one towards the end when Wycombe were pushing forward. He'll stretch teams and he'll get better and better. If we can show that spirit in the remaining 16 games we should be OK. But we need another seven wins or so.

"The headers Joey's won, the tackles he's won, the battles he's won, besides the goal he's had a superb game. If he plays like that no-one can critiicise him and when he plays like that I'm one of his biggest fans."

By the end of the game, Smith's voice was hoarse. "I'm getting back on the training ground and it's only my second game . . . it's like anything else, my voice needs fitness training!" he laughed.

Defender Phil Whelan said: "It's been a long time since we've won, and a long time since we've kept a clean sheet as well. It was nice to get the two and we had to fight very hard for it. "It was a scrappy game, not a pretty game, but we got the three points we needed.

"It had been five and a half games since we scored, so the self-belief had gone a bit. But to score in the first half gave us all a lift.

"Craig's got a bit of pace and was able to get on the end of things, and he certainly made it easier for the whole team."

Whelan highlighted the difference Smith has made in such a short space of time.

"Denis likes to do a lot of work on the training pitch, a lot of team play, pattern play, and I think that showed. Everybody seemed to know their job, we worked very hard and we got the rewards.

"He's been working on Peter Fear and Paul Tait. He said we weren't quite closing down in midfield and we have worked very hard on that. The two worked very hard in midfield and that made it easier for us at the back."

United now have a better record away from the Manor than in front of their own supporters. "Our away form isn't too bad, it's just our home form which is terrible," Whelan agreed. "We've got three big games coming up at home and we've got to start addressing that problem immediately."

Matchwinner Beauchamp said: "Being a local derby, it gave us that extra bite as well.

"For the first time in the last few months when we went 1-0 up we haven't panicked and thought 'oh my God, we're going to win'.

"We looked more solid and we had a bit of luck for the first time for ages."

Story date: Monday 14 February

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.