Appleton pleased by massive win

Oxford boss Michael Appleton was delighted with his side after ending a four-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory at Stevenage.

Following a goalless first half John Mullins headed a 59th-minute Michael Collins free-kick into the top corner for the U's opener and his first of the season. Callum O'Dowda then doubled the lead eight minutes later with a simple tap in after Chris Day produced a fine save to deny Pat Hoban from close range. The win was a first in five attempts for Oxford and Appleton is now turning his attention to the transfer market ahead of the window shutting on Monday. "It's a massive victory; it's been a difficult four or five weeks for us," he said. "Here we saw a very different side to the one last week. I felt it was a game where we needed some more experienced players. "It couldn't have gone better. Obviously keeping a clean sheet is good. I don't think Stevenage have lost here since October and they were on a very good run before they lost to Shrewsbury. "We knew it would be tough and the pitch isn't really conducive to playing too much football. "Hopefully we've got a very busy 48 hours now, we've got some business to do and have got further down the line with a good two or three things. "[Burton player] Alex MacDonald will be coming in at 9am on Monday to do his medical and if everything goes well I think he's going to be a great capture. "[Peterborough United player] Tyrone Barnett is number one target. We've given him the weekend to mull things over and see what his options are. As far as I'm aware pretty much everything is agreed." As for Stevenage, this was a first loss in nine at Broadhall Way and manager Graham Westley was left bemoaning a lengthy injury list. "I'm not sure the game was that competitive. One of my biggest complaints at half-time was that it was lacklustre. It was really disappointing, I don't even think they came with any intent," Westley said. "I thought we improved after half-time then a moment of disorganisation from a silly free-kick to concede. The reaction and the mentality was disappointing "We're missing the Marriotts, the Petts and the Whelpdales. Dean Parrett played as long as he could. "They are all in a spot of bother unfortunately, they have been massive for us in our recent run and they are tough players to replace. Marriott puts the ball in the net, we knew that before we signed him. "I'm disappointed to lose him - I'm not sure for how long it's going to be. It looks like he is going to go under the knife and it could be his season is over. "Pett has a fracture but it's likely not to keep him out for as long as we first thought. For Whelpdale we are still awaiting the results of a scan."