Matt Bloomfield praises ‘real team effort’ as struggling Oxford stun Preston

Matt Bloomfield hailed a “real team effort” from Oxford after their shock 3-1 win over Preston at Deepdale.

Michal Helik prodded the relegation-threatened outfit ahead in the fourth minute before Milutin Osmajic’s 12th-minute equaliser.

Will Lankshear’s improvised 55th-minute finish deservedly restored the visitors’ lead and Ciaron Brown’s header six minutes later sealed the points.

The Oxford boss said: “I think the results are important but, if we just focus on that, we’ll forget that it’s the performance that takes you to the result. I thought we played with real energy, freshness and enthusiasm tonight.

“We were disappointed not to be ahead at half-time. We adjusted things ever so slightly at half-time in terms of our tactical approach to our defensive work in the second half.

“The lads took the opportunities when they came along and were able to see the game out. A really good mentality to see that game out in the second half.

“It was a real team effort, a real squad effort and we’re going to need every single one of our players between the seasons to contribute.”

Back-to-back wins have propelled Oxford out of the relegation zone on goal difference, with the two sides below them, West Brom and Leicester, in action on Saturday.

Two of the three goals came from set-pieces, with Preston struggling to deal with high balls throughout the game, and Bloomfield wants more goals from dead-ball situations.

He added: “It comes from confidence and belief – you score one or two, you then believe they’re going to go and score another one or two. The delivery from Cameron (Brannagan) and Jamie (Donley) has been on the money the last couple of games.

“We’ve got some decent (height) about ourselves. Actually I’m disappointed that we hadn’t scored a few earlier on, because we have got some good size and good delivery.

“We’re paying some attention to that. We want to win football matches and we have to use every available opportunity that we can to get the points that we need.”

Defeat made it one victory in 10 for Preston, whose play-off ambitions are now a distant memory.

Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom shifted to a back four after predominantly going with a back three throughout his time at the club and the formation change backfired.

He said: “There were no surprises in how they set up, especially away from home – defend deep, deny space and be a threat on counters and set-plays.

“That’s why I’m so disappointed because if we’re going to concede three goals in the manner that we did, we’re not going to give ourselves a chance in games.

“I feel at the minute we’re a soft touch when we’re defending in our box and that’s happened three times.

“(Earlier in the season) we were like a brick wall at times, whether that be denying the ball from getting in the box (or blocking it) if it did come in. Everything else between both penalty boxes is just smoke and mirrors. It’s propaganda.”