OXFORD United's players showed the mental toughness they have been lacking in away games this season in their outstanding 1-1 draw at promotion favourites Bolton.

Manager Malcolm Shotton hailed the performance "magnificent" and said: "We've tried to get into the players about being mentally stronger and today was proof of the pudding.

"The lads did a very professional job and I'm proud of them."

Shotton produced a masterstroke by switching to 3-5-2, bringing back Brian Wilsterman to deal with the pace of Bolton striker Nathan Blake, and by dropping his flank players Joey Beauchamp and Paul Powell.

He felt Beauchamp's mind might not have been right for the game after his talks with Fulham last week.

United's manager then revealed just how hard he, his assistant Mark Harrison and the players had been grafting in a bid to start picking up some decent away results.

"We worked very hard after the home defeat by Tranmere. We worked morning and afternoon with the players, changed the side around, changed the system around and I'm delighted with the result.

"We brought an 18-man squad up to Yorkshire and all the lads have played their part, even those who didn't play, by mentally preparing the players to go out."

Shotton enthused after the match: "Bolton for me are probably the best technical side in the division. Sunderland we got murdered at and they're a powerful side but these technically are slightly better, and to come here and get a result was magnificent - and we could have nicked it. "I thought long and hard about changing the personnel and the system we play," said Shotton. "We felt Bolton get forward very, very quickly and we needed to shore up the defence."

Andy Thomson grabbed his third goal of the season two minutes after Denmark international Per Frandsen had put Bolton in front.

"We battled well and deserved the point," Thomson said. "We set out our stall from the beginning to be strong for the first 20 minutes and not give them any chances, and it worked out that way.

"We lost a goal but got one back very quickly which gave us a lot of confidence. At the end the manager was delighted at the spirit we showed and the way everybody did their job.

"We had better chances than Bolton," stated goalkeeper Phil Whitehead. "But we defended very well and restricted them mainly to long range, they didn't really create anything.

"We had a couple of one on ones and a couple of good scoring chances, and although we're pleased to get one point we're also disappointed not to get three."

"That's the best we've played all season and it takes us nicely into the Bury game," said Dean Windass.

"The team spirit at Oxford is magnificent. You go to Sunderland and get beaten 7-0 and then you come back and win 4-1 in the next match and to bounce back as we did after losing to Tranmere was fantastic."

United have one injury doubt for tomorrow's Division 1 game at Bury with Christophe Remy under treatment after taking a kick on his kneecap at the Reebok Stadium.

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