Boss Shotts couldn't bear to watch!

With Swindon Town bidding to do the double over Oxford for the first time, Shotton knew how much it meant to United's fans to beat their deadliest rivals, and how crucial the spot kick would be.

"I couldn't watch the penalty, it's the first time ever I've not been able to watch," he said. "I was down here in the tunnel.

"It was an early part of the game and I knew how important it was. I just felt that I didn't want to witness something I didn't want to see. The people around were saying 'it's in, it's in", so I was happy with that."

But goal machine Windass, finding the net for the fifth match running and later adding a second goal to take his season's tally to 18, said his manager needn't have worried. "Right through my career I've always taken penalties and I've never missed one. That's over nine seasons, so it must be 25-30 penalties.

"I always miss in training when I mess about, but when I do get one on the pitch I'm focussed and I know where I want to put it. And thankfully, it went in - though the keeper got a hand to it.

"All right, if you miss, you miss. But I have so much belief in myself that even if I did miss one I'd carry on taking them. It's like falling off a bike, you've got to get back on it."

Windass, who told the Oxford Mail before the local derby that he now felt he was going to score every time he stepped out on the pitch, said it was a relief that the transfer talk surrounding him was coming to an end after United had told clubs he wasn't for sale.

"The transfer speculation has been a bit of a mental stress on me, especially with my wife being pregnant," Dean said. "You just want something to happen and if it does, it's brilliant because that's what you play football for - to get a big move to the highest level you can.

"The manager's made it clear that if an offer comes in that they can't refuse, then they'll sell me. But at the moment it's all just speculation .

"The speculation tires you out mentally when you get people coming up to you in the street and asking 'are you staying, are you going?' In the end I don't know."

Shotton said: "Eighteen goals is a great strike rate. "The second one was a well-worked goal with Tommo (Andy Thomson) hitting a good strike and that's a good partnership because one hits the target and the other just rolls it into an empty net."

French defender Christophe Remy, who replaced suspended skipper Les Robinson, said: "It was a good atmosphere in the dressing room afterwards because we know these local derbies are really tough and mentally everybody is up for it, so it is a relief to win 2-0.

"We played well, we looked quite solid at the back and we fully deserved the win.

"It was funny, the atmosphere beforehand and the types of chants we don't have in France among the supporters. I thank them for their support because it helped us today.

"We still need points in the table. The Cup-tie was a good boost for everyone because we were on TV and playing against international players is a tough challenge but, as we proved to everyone, we could play at that level, and for some of the youngsters it was a good mental thing. "They proved to everyone that they could do it and now we have to keep going and build on it.

Shotton added: "It's important that we carry on the work we are doing and get the results.

"The progression of the lads in the last few weeks is there for all to see. They're working very hard in training and they're getting their just rewards on the pitch."

Swindon Town boss Jimmy Quinn was blunt in his assessment. "We were lucky to get nil," he said.

OXFORD United youth players Chris Hackett and John Shepherd have been selected for an FA Youth XI against a South Western Counties XI at Dorchester Town tonight. Hackett, who attends Wheatley Park School, is still only 15.

Story date: Monday 15 February

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