Billy Turley admitted last night he was spurred on to his man-of-the-match performance against Crawley by a fan's disgraceful attack on him at half-time.

The Oxford United goalkeeper was the target of a verbal and physical attack by a home supporter, which ended with the fan being ejected by stewards.

Turley went on to produce a string of brilliant second-half saves as the U's won 1-0 for their first home league victory since September.

There was precious little festive spirit around as the angry spectator repeatedly swore at Turley and then hurled his pie and chips at him.

Other supporters nearby in the Oxford Mail Stand then turned on the fan, and stewards had to intervene before ejecting him.

The U's keeper, who had done nothing to deserve being singled out and had come back into the side despite nursing a very sore shoulder injury, later conceded: "It did spur me on, but in another sense it didn't, because I hate losing anyway.

"It just got my back up, really. I wouldn't normally give this person the time of day when talking to the media, but I feel quite passionate about it."

Explaining what happened, Turley said: "I just went to get my gloves and my towel behind the goal, as I do every half-time, and a fan just came running down the steps.

"He said something about the team first of all, which I ignored, and then he said something personal to me - not just once, but two or three times.

"He was quite rude, I can't repeat what he said.

"I don't mind fans having a go at me, but the thing was there were kids around.

"I don't know what gives him the right to run down and have a go at me when I'm 60 per cent fit and I've played today. I think he threw his burger at me as well . . . I should have caught that and eaten it!"

In the second half, Turley was magnificent after Phil Trainer broke the U's ten-hour goal drought with a super strike.

Said the keeper: "All the other fans were brilliant to me and I'd like to think I contributed to the win and to the fans having a nice Christmas.

"As the gaffer said afterwards, that's the first time this season when we've been in the lead and the other team's thrown everything at us, like the Torquays and Exeters, and we've withstood it and come through. We needed that.

"The last 20 minutes they basically only had one back, and were throwing everything at us but that's what I'm there for."