Chris Wilder gave a massive pat on the back to Oxford United’s fans for the part they played in Saturday’s thrilling 2-1 win over League Two leaders Port Vale.

Tom Craddock earned the U’s a dramatic victory at the Kassam Stadium with his second goal, two minutes into stoppage time, and just moments after Vale had hauled themselves level.

United boss Wilder praised Craddock, who got both goals, and he also said that the backing his young team received from the home crowd was exactly what they needed.

“The support the young players had from the punters was absolutely first class,” he said.

“Not one moan or groan in the stadium, and that gave the young boys the opportunity to be nice and relaxed and confident.

“I thought it was a great game. The support was 100 per cent, exactly how we wanted it to be.

“We talked about the support being right behind us, they had to make the noise and drive us on, and they did because we had to raise our game.

“It was a real difficult task for us to get a result because Port Vale are league leaders for a reason, especially as we’re missing players.”

They were Craddock’s first two goals at home for Oxford, and he is starting to look an outstanding prospect.

Said Wilder: “Tom’s going to have his off days, other days he’s going to be good, Constable’s the same.

“But we feel we’ve got a really good player, with the support he gets from us, the coaching staff, and the supporters here.

“Like all forwards he’s a confidence player and hopefully those two goals will give him the boost to go on and get a few more goals for us.”

United once more had a very young defence, with Leigh Franks and Steve Kinniburgh continuing alongside Harry Worley, again making it three of the back four all aged 21 or under.

“It was a difficult one for Franks because I think their front two (Justin Richards and Marc Richards) are the best two in the league as a partnership by a million miles.”

Port Vale had won all four previous away games and were on a run of six straight victories, but Oxford shattered both sequences.

“It was great character from the players,” Wilder said.

“We got a little bit ragged towards the end with the changes we had to make and the side we had to put out, but we stuck at it.

“I was delighted with the way we went about it.

“We went right after them from the off and asked a few questions of them, I think deservedly went in front, weathered a storm and should have got over the finishing line.

“We got caught offside too many times, but there were a lot of tired legs out there.”

Port Vale manager Micky Adams said: “We had an off day today. Individually and collectively we’ve not got it at all right. We were on the back foot from the first whistle.

“But full credit to Oxford, they showed a lot more desire and determination than we did. And when we’ve managed to get back into it right at the death, we’ve then contrived to lose it.”