CRAIG Short was pleased to round off a ‘difficult week’ with a second win in interim charge of Oxford United.

Former head coach Liam Manning left the U’s for Sky Bet Championship side Bristol City on Tuesday, yet Short has overseen victories against Chelsea Under-21s in the EFL Trophy and now Leyton Orient in the league.

The 3-2 win at Orient saw United race into a three-goal lead courtesy of a Ruben Rodrigues brace and Billy Bodin header.

However, almost straight after Rodrigues notched his second of the afternoon, a Fin Stevens own goal and then Ruel Sotiriou strike brought the home side back into the game.

Short said: “For them to score the first goal so quickly after us scoring the third put them on the front foot.

“If you’re playing a footballing team, sometimes it’s more predictable, but because they’re so direct, they load the box and gave problems to Elliott [Moore] and Ciaron [Brown].

“I thought after 3-2, we managed it pretty well and we started to get on the ball higher up the pitch.

“You cannot come away from home in any league and have it your own way. Just because we started so well, you’ve then got to weather the storm.

“It’s draining, but I’m so pleased for them because they’ve had a difficult week with the manager leaving.”

The U’s board now has the benefit of the international break to find a replacement for Manning, with the side not in action until the trip to Cheltenham Town on November 25.

Short said: “I’m just getting on with it and enjoying it, and you do enjoy the responsibility. If we’d lost two games, then it’d be different.

“I’ve enjoyed the responsibility and I’ve got good people around me.

“If I have to prep for the Cheltenham game, I’ll happily do so and it gives more breathing space, but I’m sure they’ll get it right.”