By Jon Murray MICKEY Lewis took a huge step towards getting the Oxford United manager's job on a permanent basis as the U's won 2-1 in a dramatic televised Thames Valley derby at Reading.

A spectacular late winner from Matt Murphy gave United their first Division 2 win since beating Bristol City in September.

Yet it was the manner of the performance, with Oxford's players clearly showing how much they wanted to get a victory for the caretaker boss, which will have impressed watching chairman Firoz Kassam, who is to interview other candidates later this week.

United's players refused to accept a draw after Reading levelled late in the game, and that single-minded determination helped bring Murphy his chance, which the midfielder buried for one of the best goals he's ever scored.

"Not many of them go in like that, so I'll be keeping the video," said Murphy as he reflected on his ninth goal of the season.

"The ball came across from Joey (Beauchamp), I thought Ben Abbey was going to come out with the ball and turn and shoot but fortunately, he did hear me, let it go and I just tried to get it on target. "Some go in nicely and some bobble about everywhere but this was quite nice.

"With our spirit lately, we don't feel we're going to go down even after we've conceded, so we kept pushing on."

Murphy added: "The lads are fully behind Mickey - 100 per cent. There's no-one who would not want Mickey in charge.

"I know there's a few who are not going to be happy because they're not in the team, but generally, everyone's really happy about Mickey being there.

"Whether that's going to be the case is not in our hands, but we can try and do it on the pitch and push him that way, and hopefully the rest falls into place.

"It's been a little while since we got a league win. There's a bit of relief because we're desperate for points." He added: "The lads are really on top form at the moment. People who have watched training have seen how much it has changed, all the lads are really bubbly. Hopefully we're taking that onto the pitch. We wouldn't have been happy with one-each."

Lewis himself was delighted: "It was a fantastic performance and a brilliant day for everyone involved," he said.

"We were under pressure but we defended brilliantly and it showed great character by the players."

An away win like this can only augment his chances of getting the job and he admitted: "I don't suppose it will do any harm!

"But it is still only just one game. We haven't got beat in the last week but we have to build on this. It's no good just thinking that's it and losing the next three games and wasting it." There were some bold team selection decisions Lewis made, giving a debut in such a highly-charged game to 18-year-old defender Ross Weatherstone, recalling Neil McGowan at left wing-back and dropping Peter Fear and Paul Powell.

Lewis said: "I wanted to make changes. That's nothing against the players who have gone out, they've been fantastic about it. The dressing room before the game was absolutely buzzing and that's a credit to the players who were left out.

"When Les Taylor and I were talking about this game the other day, we had a feeling we could come here and get a result.

"I told the players who weren't playing about it on Friday and there was no problem at all. There's been a lack of confidence with some players and we needed a little bit of a change, and it gave everyone a lift. People have come in and done brilliantly, but also the lads who stayed in have done better as well.

"Although we were under a lot of pressure I didn't feel too distressed, to be honest. Then Reading got a goal out of nothing. But the best thing about today is we've been very solid - Les Robinson did a very good job sitting in the middle of the park. "We still played some good football at times but away from home, you can't always be cavalier and try and score six goals. Sometimes you've got to be solid and make sure you don't concede a goal early on.

"It was an absolutely brilliant winning goal. Joey did brilliantly down the left to get the cross in and Matty, running onto it from midfield - which I think he's best at - hit a great goal."

Lewis confirmed that Steve Davis had failed a fitness test before the game to give Ross Weatherstone his chance.

"Ross was absolutely superb. He was competitive, he's only 18, and that was his first game. What he's got is a strong character.

"When we knew Steve might be struggling, I called Ross in during training to do some pattern play and you could see on his face he wanted to play. "I asked a few of the senior players for their view and they said they'd like him to play because he's a good player. He's very good in the air but to come here today on your debut, in a big local derby, and play the way he did, you need a strong character.

"The players have been so good, in training, in every single thing they've done and you could see today. A lot of them have been very helpful as well.

"I do discuss things with the senior players. I still have my own mind, but it's good to bounce ideas of senior players. But they've all said to me they want me to get the job."

Story date: Monday 08 November

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