Oxford United coach Andy Melville said the team’s shock win at table-topping Chesterfield last night showed how together they were as a group.

The 2-1 victory against the odds was a big result for manager Chris Wilder, who had been under pressure after five straight defeats and a dismal first-half showing against Gillingham last Saturday.

But last night he got the tactics right, and the personnel rose to the occasion with Simon Heslop, starting again, impressing and on-loan Plymouth striker Steve Maclean outstanding.

Heslop was involved in both goals, from Tom Craddock and Maclean himself, as the U’s recovered from a goal down at half-time for a famous and welcome three points.

Melville, asked to do the post-match press conference by Wilder, said: “It showed how much we were together as a group. We all stuck together and I thought there were some great performances out there. It’s a great result for us.

“First half we didn’t play, and gave the ball away a bit too much. But in the second half we defended well, played as a team and it was a good strong unit, and we were better with the ball.

“I thought the new lads – and it's been difficult for them – all came in and did well, and showed why we brought them to the football club.

“Maclean was excellent tonight. If you knock the ball up there, he can hold it up, flick it on and obviously he’s a goal threat as well.

“I thought Paul Wotton was excellent for us as well, and Ben Futcher won some great headers for us, and got people going in and around him and impressed for us.

“We were very positive in the second half and got our just rewards.”

It was United's second away win of the season. Their first had been at the bottom club, Hereford.

But few expected them to win at top club Chesterfield, who were the division’s highest scorers and who had won seven out of nine home games.

One big concern for the U’s, however, is an ankle injury suffered by centre back Jake Wright, which forced him off at the end of the first half.

But United are without a match this weekend, and that will hopefully give him time to recover.