Chris Tardif publicly thanked Graham Rix for saving his career after another stunning performance in the Oxford United goal.

The new U's keeper made a world-class save from a goalbound header by U's old boy Andy Scott to help earn his team a 0-0 League Two draw at Leyton Orient on Saturday.

It was the first away point under Rix, and Tardif paid tribute afterwards to the Oxford manager for keeping him in the game.

"I was looking to give up football at Christmas last year because I was so disillusioned with it at Portsmouth," he said.

"If it wasn't for the gaffer, I probably would have packed it in.

"I went to speak to him and he said 'don't pack it in' and now he has given me this chance at Oxford.

"This move has kick-started my career again and I want to repay him, and prove to myself that I can do it at a good level.

"It's so nice to come to a place where you're wanted and where the manager's got faith in you. That hasn't been the case before."

It was the fourth time in the last four games that Tardif has been selected as our Oxford United man of the match.

Rix said: "Chris has performed well all season and he's carred it on today. Nobody works harder in training. He's the first to arrive and the last to leave.

"He was loaned out to Bournemouth but not taken on and was not getting a look-in at Portsmouth, but I knew what he was capable of.

"He's been our most consistent performer this season. It's a bit worrying, I know, when your keeper is the most consistent player, but I'm pleased for him.

"Providing he keeps his feet on the ground, he'll be a great asset for us."

Tardif modestly said: "I'm just doing what I'm paid to do at the moment."

However, many witnesses described his save from Scott's header seven minutes from the end as the best save they could remember from a United keeper since the days of Phil Whitehead.

He had to cover an enormous amount of ground to get to the ball, and it was virtually behind him when he clawed it away.

Tardif added: "Alan Judge, the goalkeeping coach, has been getting me to go for everything in training.

"We work on the principle that even if I get one out of 20 of those that I don't expect to get, it's worth it. This was probably that one.

"These are the glory moments that you have to enjoy as a goalkeeper, because there are always bad moments as well."