Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink described the 2-0 win over Oxford as Burton's best performance in his three months as manager.
Goals from Adam McGurk and Lucas Akins secured victory for the hosts to keep them level on points with Shrewsbury at the top of the League Two table. A delighted Hasselbaink said: "I have said to the players that this is the best game we have played since I came here. "Organisation-wise, we looked solid and very disciplined. It was a very professional win." The Dutchman had special words of praise for McGurk, who has now scored three times in five games since forcing his way back into the team. Hasselbaink said: "In the first half, Adam was our main man. He looked very sharp, he won second balls, he held the ball up and he caused Oxford problems. And he also made a good follow through, as a striker does, for his goal. "That gave us a little lift and in the second half, I must say, we came out very strong and looked to score the second goal. "It didn't come as quickly as we would have liked because we over-played it a little bit, but we stayed very professional and kept our organisation, which for me is a very good sign." McGurk followed up to head in from close range in the 13th minute after full-back Damien McCrory's stinging low drive looped up invitingly off U's goalkeeper Ryan Clarke. Both sides went close in a lively start to the second half. Josh Ashby rolled a shot inches wide for the visitors and Burton defender Shane Cansdell-Sherriff had a near-post flick cleared off the line. Top scorer Danny Hylton missed a chance to pull Oxford level after 75 minutes when he steered Kemar Roofe's cross the wrong side of a post. And Burton had another escape eight minutes from the end as Ashby's free-kick rattled the crossbar. But Hasselbaink's side sealed victory when Akins latched onto a pass from substitute Nasser El Khayati to drill his shot inside the near post. The defeat left Michael Appleton worried about a lack of cutting edge - and looking to strengthen his Oxford squad. The U's boss said: "In terms of stopping Burton creating attacking opportunities, I thought we did that for the majority of the game. "I don't know whether it's a lack of confidence or self belief in the final third, but there were times when we did get the ball out wide and put some decent crosses in without being able to take our opportunities. "The lack of goals is not preying on my mind, but I hope it's preying on the minds of our centre-forwards because that's their job. "I would like to think that with a little bit of Lady Luck we can get one or two (new players) in next week. "We'll continue to look and probe at what's out there in the hope we can improve our starting XI."Jimmy Joy as Burton impress