Jim Smith's focus on a rock-solid defence, and his capture of Welsh striker Rob Duffy, both seem masterstrokes after Oxford United stretched their unbeaten start to 11 games with a comfortable 1-0 win at Stafford on Saturday.
The hosts never looked like scoring, and United have now kept four clean sheets in their six away games.
And Duffy, although he was slightly rusty at the start after returning from injury, demonstrated his impressive eye for a goal with a superbly-taken winner on the hour.
United should probably have won 2-0, but centre half Chris Willmott missed from two yards out.
Smith said: "People always talk about you having to score goals, which you obviously need to win a game, but if you keep clean sheets it certainly gives you a lot better chance to win a game.
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