Will there be a race to the ball next time the U’s win a penalty?

Steve MacLean tucked away the spot-kick against Rotherham because regular taker Tom Craddock, who had taken over from James Constable, was not on the pitch.

And MacLean had himself won the penalty.

The Scot’s conversion won the game, but he admitted: “I wouldn’t say it was the greatest penalty I’ve ever taken, but it was nice to see it go in.

“The keeper did well and got a hand to it. I thought I was going to have to put the rebound in, but it spun over the line, so I was happy.

“But more important was that we got the three points.

“There might be more competition now to see who takes them, but we’ll not let that get in the way of us.

“It’s whoever is on the pitch and who fancies it, whoever feels confident, whoever’s on a hat-trick maybe.

“But first we’ve got to make sure we get the penalties!”

UNITED will train at Preston today en route to the game at Morecambe.

TOMORROW’S match is Chris Wilder’s 99th league game in charge of Oxford.

The “ton-up” comes against Hereford next week.

His league record to date for United reads: played 98, won 53, drawn 23, lost 22.