MALCOLM Shotton got Steve Davis in his pocket at the weekend - right on cue!

The manager with the Midas touch signed the Barnsley defender for £75,000 . . . and then celebrated his biggest win since he became Oxford United boss with a 5-1 stuffing of Stoke.

Davis, 30, was set to play the final game of his month's loan from Oakwell, but the move became permanent as Shotton persuaded him to forsake possible Premiership football with Barnsley by signing a two-year contract at the Manor Ground.

"He's done brilliantly," Shotton said. "He's settled everybody down around him.

"Steve's enjoying his football. He's come here and done the business for us.

"He has got on well, knows which way the club is going, he's seen the stadium all but ready . . . we're going the right way, make no mistake about it."

Shotton added: "The boys are flying. Six wins, two draws and two defeats in the ten games I've been here is a tremendous record, not just for me but for the players. I'm delighted for them.

"I think the lads have really gelled as a squad and as a team and we're going from strength to strength."

It was United's biggest win of the season and lifted them to 13th in the table.

And once again, boss Shotton's magic touch paid off. The manager who can do no wrong unexpectedly recalled Matt Murphy to play up front and Murphy responded by scoring two and having a hand in one of two more for Kevin Francis before going off to a standing ovation. "I couldn't have asked for a better return, and in front of the home fans," said Murphy. "Hopefully, it went down quite well.

"It was a bit of a shock to get the call because I've been out of the picture for a while.

"I think I've been quite patient. I've seen the gaffer on a couple of occasions and hopefully this will give me a new start now."

Murphy confirmed the change in mood at the club since Shotton took over.

"It's quite a different atmosphere from Denis Smith being here," he stated. "They're two totally different characters. We work a lot harder in training, it's showing up at the moment and we're doing well."

Shotton reckons all his players know that if they produce, a place in the team is there.

"Matt Murphy did well," he declared. "I'll chop and change if I feel it's necessary.

"Everybody in the club knows there's a shirt up for grabs. Nobody in this club knows they are safe and that's the best way to do it.

"Matt's worked very, very hard since I've been here and I thought it was right that he had his time today.

"I told the players at half-time to go and relax and play football instead of trying to out-fight, the way Stoke wanted to play, and I thought in the second half we were different class.

"The goal we let in was the only blot. I was very disappointed to lose a sloppy goal like that otherwise we would have had four clean sheets on the bounce."

Local rivals Reading, who visit the Manor tomorrow night, were beaten 4-0 at Sheffield United.

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