Oxford United boss Jim Smith admitted that the introduction of Steve Basham for an out-of-sorts Rob Duffy midway through the second half was a key moment in Saturday's 2-0 win over Aldershot.

Leading scorer Duffy had a rare off-day in attack for the U's and was replaced in the 66th minute by last year's top marksman.

And it was the substitute who inspired Smith's side, with Andy Burgess (pictured) scoring twice - once from the penalty spot - to maintain United's unbeaten record.

However, Duffy's performance may be explained by a suspected broken hand picked up in the opening period.

"We set off really well and Greavsie (Chris Hargreaves) was a bit unlucky at the end of a great move when he hit the bar," Smith said.

"But then we lost our way a little bit and we didn't really give them any problems after the first 20 minutes.

"We didn't do anything in the early part of the second half, and then we started to play when Bash came on."

Smith said that he was relieved when his side were awarded the penalty, because he felt it should have been the second one.

But he then confessed that he feared the worst when he remembered that Duffy is the club's penalty taker, and he had been taken off!

"We got the penalty - we should have had two penalties - and I thought 'what have I done here, I've taken the penalty-taker off.

"We haven't been very successful with anybody else from the spot, but Burge took it really well - he had to, with those boots!

"That settled us down, we got a break, and if you see anybody running at goal, the one guy you want is Andy Burgess, who finished it really well."

Smith felt leading scorer Duffy was well below his best.

"He was poor, I thought," the U's boss said.

"As well as he's done in the past, and I know it looks as if he's broken a bone in his hand, but he was disappoint- ing.

"But he's done fantastic for us this season and he's not going to be Superman every Saturday.

"The strength of our squad is our bench.

"Gavin (Johnson) came on, Eddie (Hutchinson) came on, and obviously Bash came on and did really well.

"We'd got a bit anxious from not having scored when we should have done, but we've got a great defence.

"We don't let goals in."