Chris Wilder says he has nothing but praise for the way his Oxford United side have bounced back from their first defeat at Mansfield last week.

The U’s made it two straight wins in the Blue Square Premier with a 3-1 victory over Crawley at the Kassam Stadium last night to stay eight points clear at the top.

And it was a night of special goals with Scottish left back Steven Kinniburgh scoring with a glorious 25-yard lob over keeper Simon Rayner.

Wilder said: “My players have shown they’re a confident bunch. The front three were lively. There were some very strange refereeing decisions, but we just got on with it.

“I was delighted with the whole team performance. And I’ve got nothing but praise for the way they've responded to losing at Mansfield.

“We wanted to win tonight to make sure the gap at the top doesn’t decrease, and we’ve bounced back in tremendous fashion.”

Adam Chapman marked his first starting appearance in eight games with a cracking free-kick goal.

But ex-Thame United and Oxford United centre forward Jefferson Louis equalised – and was then unlucky not to fire Crawley ahead as he struck a ferocious shot against the underside of the bar.

But the U’s kept driving forward, and first Kinniburgh, and then Jack Midson, himself getting a first start for a while, found the net to bring Oxford win No 11.

“Crawley's front two were a handful for us, but we had chances galore in the second half tonight, I thought,” said Wilder.

“I thought the decision for their goal (awarding a free-kick) was ridiculous. They’re both tustling for the ball and if anything I thought it would be a free-kick to us.

“The crowd reaction said it all . . . 6,000 people can’t be wrong!”

Kinniburgh was delighted with his strike.

“I just went for it and it’s been inch perfect – these are the things you have to try from 25 yards,” he said.