LIAM Manning was delighted by a professional performance on the road as Oxford United ended a three-game run without a win.

The U’s drew at home to Blackpool and Wycombe Wanderers, with a defeat at Wigan Athletic sandwiched in between, however put those results behind them to earn three points at Lincoln City.

Ciaron Brown gave United a first half lead when he powered in a header from a Cameron Brannagan corner, before Stan Mills forced an own goal out of Imps goalkeeper Lukas Jensen, who dropped the winger’s cross over the goal line.

The result saw the U’s take full advantage of their game in hand on Sky Bet League One leaders Portsmouth and close the gap at the top to three points.

Read our match report here

Speaking after the game, United head coach Manning said: “It was a professional performance for me, and frustrating at times as we created some terrific opportunities but didn’t take them.

“We had to make a change early on and changed system, which just shows where the lads are at.

“We had a good chat at half-time around managing emotion, not panicking if we haven’t got the ball and not getting frustrated.

“I thought it was a really professional away performance and we restricted Lincoln to very little, especially in the second half.”

The U’s lost Sam Long to injury just eight minutes into the clash at Sincil Bank, however his side’s response impressed Manning.

He said: “We do a lot of work and prep work on playing with three at the back and wing backs.

“It felt right to bring Stan on and tweak it for minimal impact elsewhere, and I thought the lads adjusted really well.

“We have discussions pre-game in terms of possible scenarios if we do have to change in-game and what it looks like.

“You can prep that and you can plan it. I also think you go off what the game looks like and what it feels like.

“We have discussions about it and what’s so important is that we coach the lads the principles of the game and they’re able to solve problems.”

On Mills, Manning added: “You forget how young he is in his career with this being his first loan, which there’s a stigma around in football.

“He’s someone you can be quite tough on and can take real clean feedback. He wants to improve and get better, he turns up every day, he’s a terrific character and has fitted into the group really well.

“He can change games and have game-changing moments, but that’s underpinned by some terrific behaviours like his defensive stuff and the way he defends the box.

“He’s still got bits to learn and bits to grow on, but I thought he did really well tonight.”