Brian Talbot believes Chris Hackett's goal at Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night indicates the winger appreciates his need to "up" his goal ratio.

The 22-year-old netted just before half-time in United's 1-1 draw at the Memorial Stadium by coming in at the far post to meet a left-wing cross.

It was only his ninth league goal in more than 60 starts.

And manager Talbot, who before the season started picked out Hackett as the best right winger in League Two, said he had spoken with the player about getting more end product to his game.

"It was a good header," Talbot said. "Matt Robinson did brilliantly down the touchline, crossed it and Chris got in front of his man and headed it.

"It was a good time to score, right on half-time and it was a good goal.

"To be honest, I'm trying to get more end product to Hackett's industry.

"He's quick, a good runner and dribbler . . . we've got to get end product on the pitch. That means goals, assists and that means crosses, and not just set pieces - corners and free-kicks.

"We've talked about this. If I could get Chris Hackett with just a bit more end product to his play, generally, we'll have a better player on our hands."

Hackett would have taken particular pleasure in the goal, though, because it was against Bristol Rovers.

Their manager, Ian Atkins, often played with a "narrow" midfield in his time as boss at the Kassam Stadium so didn't give Hackett as many chances as he felt he deserved.

United have still won only once under Talbot, but they looked a more complete unit against a Bristol Rovers team who, with the prolific Junior Agogo, can be very dangerous going forward.

"We didn't have a soft centre this time," said Talbot. "Chris Willmott and Leo Roget formed a formidable partnership down the middle.

"Let's be honest, Agogo is a handful, he has tremendous pace, as we saw when Billy Turley got a yellow card. But they've worked him hard, have played him well, and I don't really think, apart from the time when Billy clashed with him, he really looked dangerous."

The U's have a number of injury worries before Saturday's visit to Darlington with Stuart Gray, who hobbled off with an ankle injury in the first half at Bristol Rovers, Lee Bradbury and Steve Basham all nursing knocks.

"All round I was pleased with the performance on Tuesday," Talbot said. "I wanted us to win, but you can't win every game.

"We've only won one all season, but slowly but surely we are getting there.

"We've been in front now five times, and held onto it just once, against Torquay, but the second half was a much-improved display."