Steve Basham rekindled Oxford United's promotion hopes at the weekend - and showed just what they've been missing.

Steve Basham scores

The former Southampton and Preston striker capped a classy display with a brilliant second goal as the U's beat Rochdale 2-0 at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday.

"Every time he got into the penalty area he looked dangerous," said manager Ian Atkins afterwards.

"The goal he scored was what I would call a half chance that we haven't scored from - apart from when he's played.

"He took a half chance at Darlington, a half chance at Bournemouth and today he just knocked the defender half a yard and stole into the space. That's what we've really missed, and that's what goalscorers give you."

It was the club's first win in nine attempts against Dale, and lifted them up to 11th in Division 3, just one point off the play-off places.

Atkins felt it was the team's best display of the season, and he was delighted with the showings of both front men, Basham and David Oldfield.

"To come on the back of the Villa game on Wednesday, where it can be more mentally draining than a physical thing - well, that was enjoyable to watch," he added.

"If you can get two strikers who can hold it and pass it and manipulate it, it makes such a difference. The movement was absolutely superb at times.

"The only concern for me was how we might tire, on the back of Wednesday. But obviously, if you get a 1-0 lead you've got something to hold on to."

James Hunt scored his first league goal for Oxford to give them an early lead and Basham's goal was similarly his first at the Kassam Stadium.

"In the last three or four games, the lads at the back have got a little bit anxious because they've been looking and they haven't had a target.

"When you think we've got Bobby Ford to come back, and Lee Steele, it's encouraging.

"Basham, Steele and Ford are massive players for us, as Basham showed today."

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