JOHN Mousinho admitted for a moment he feared being sent off against Bristol Rovers – but it was not for the incident most spectators thought.

The Oxford United centre back stood out in an impressive defensive display, which laid the foundations for substitute Alex Mowatt to grab a late 1-0 victory.

Seconds before the decisive goal, Byron Moore went down in the penalty area under pressure from Mousinho.

While the defender, who was already on a booking, felt referee Ross Joyce got that decision right, there was concern a few minutes earlier.

He said: “I think I was luckier with a handball in the middle of the park, that was the one I was more worried about.

“I was surprised when the lads were asking me whether it was a penalty or not.

“I didn’t think it was, but I’ll have to look back at it. I don’t think the lad appealed for it.

“Of the two I thought that (the handball) was the one I got away with. I thought ‘Christ, that’s hit my hand’.

“It’s one of those strange reactions and if he’d sent me off I would have been devastated.

“Thankfully he didn’t and we won the game.”

Although the contest was not pretty at times, United’s resolve was encouraging.

And for Mousinho, the result was every bit as satisfying as the side’s last away trip, when they stylishly romped to a 4-1 win at Peterborough United.

He said: “They give you the same amount of pleasure.

“In some ways it is great because it’s such a different type of win.

“In this league there’s going to be the necessity to come to places and dig in.

“I think the three points was thoroughly deserved in the end, especially on the balance of chances in the second half.”