Oxford United boss Jim Smith has been named as the Nationwide Conference manager-of-the-month for September.

As predicted in Saturday's Oxford Mail, there was no other serious candidate than the Bald Eagle should the U's manage to beat York, and they did so 2-0.

That result took Smith's side eight points clear at the top and with six wins and a draw from their seven games, September 2006 will go down, results-wise, as one of the most successful months in the club's history.

Smith shared the August award with Grays' Frank Gray and York's Billy McEwan.

The U's boss will be hoping he is not struck down by the dreaded 'manager-of-the-month curse' having now won it outright, when United take on lowly Southport at home tonight.

Smith looks set to name an unchanged squad, with the only question being whether to recall Chris Hargreaves in central midfield if he is fit.

Overall, though, the boss was happy with the display of the midfield, pointing out the importance of Carl Pettefer and Eddie Hutchinson in providing the platform for Andy Burgess to go out and do his stuff.

"Andy had been ill for a while," he said. "He didn't train for much of last week which makes his performance all the more impressive.

"You can't have a Burgess without a Carl Pettefer.

"And Eddie Hutchinson got better and better. He hasn't done what he thought he would do this season, but on Saturday he came on a lot as the game went on."

Southport, who slipped to third from bottom after Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Exeter, have already suffered one heavy away defeat - 4-0 at Dagenham & Redbridge - but they also sprang a big surprise by winning 1-0 at Burton Albion.

Managed by former Coventry and Wolves player Paul Cook, they boast former United striker John Durnin as a coach.

Smith said: "It won't be easy, knowing John Durnin and the Southport staff there. The team will be quite aggressive, I'm led to believe."

Club captain Mark Boyd is a big doubt for Port after suffering a nasty shin injury.

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