JAKE Wright was delighted to help get rid of the home fans’ frustration as Oxford United ended their five-game winless run at the Kassam Stadium.

The U’s skipper returned after five weeks out with a groin injury as the U’s won 2-0 against Northampton Town thanks to goals from James Constable and Danny Rose.

An improved performance from the outset significantly brightened the mood among supporters, some of whom had booed the team off after their 2-0 defeat to Southend United in the previous league game a week earlier.

Wright acknowledged the importance of recording a first home victory in two months and sympathised with the supporters’ position, but thought the game showed the value of sticking together.

He said: “The home record wasn’t something that has been playing on our minds, but it is something that we said ‘listen, we all need to make sure we do well at home’.

“It’s all right doing well away but there are only 1,500 fans who see what we’re doing.

“I think the fans at home were getting a bit frustrated and fair play to them, but we needed them to stay behind us and I think that they appreciated our performance.

“Even when we were passing it about they saw that we were trying to play football.

“They got behind us and it lifted us. I think they have seen that when they get behind us we play better.”

Wright was thrilled to be back in the side after missing just four league games following surgery to remove an abscess.

The defender had only had a few days of full training under his belt and was not fully fit, but had no hesitation in volunteering to play.

He said: “Maybe I would’ve liked another week to come back but I said to the gaffer I was ready if he wants me.

“He put me back in which I’m delighted with that and I just wanted to get out there and play.”

Wright was deployed as one of three centre backs.

It puts more onus on players to get involved in possession, so considering the lack of match fitness he was grateful the U’s retained possession.

He said: “I think it’s a bit more tiring, but I think it helped that we kept the ball. If we had been giving it away all the time I think I would have been struggling after 15-20 minutes.

“It’s good to come back and get three points, the clean sheet is a bonus.”