By Jon Murray A ROLLICKING from Denis Smith inspired Oxford United to fight back and earn a 2-2 draw at Bristol City yesterday and a second division lifeline.

United's manager, furious at the way his team had let slip a one-goal lead to trail 2-1 at half-time, told the players their careers were on the line.

He admits he was the nastiest he has ever been . . . but it did the trick as Steve Davis popped up with his first goal of the season to force a draw and a priceless away point.

With big rivals Cardiff surprisingly losing 2-0 at home to Bury, the Oxford United players know that they have it almost back in their own hands to avoid the drop.

They are out of the bottom four, and a win over Scunthorpe at the Manor next Saturday will give them a great chance of staying up.

Smith admitted he said some harsh words during the interval. "I said to them at half-time that some of them were playing for their careers as professional footballers. You wouldn't have thought that in the first half. "It was so disappointing at half-time. That's the nastiest I've been to them. I wouldn't have liked to have been spoken to the way I spoke to them and it's not my nature to talk like that.

"But their careers are on the line a lot of them are out of contract in the summer. But you shouldn't have to talk to them like that."

Smith was delighted with the fightback and pleased for the experienced Davis.

"The lad who scored the equaliser deserved it because he's had a magnificent game. And it's a good job he has.

"We had a good chance to get six points this weekend and we blew it on Saturday. At least in the second half today we looked as though we were determined to fight for our future.

"I was very disappointed in the first half that once we went one up, it looked as though we stopped.

"In the second half we were much more positive and got the draw and possibly could have got the win. At least we had a go at it." Smith gambled by playing three up front yet it paid off, although his decision to play Neil McGowan again backfired as the left back, returning after injury, struggled in his second match in 48 hours against the highly impressive Scott Murray.

"I wanted Paul Powell further forward and when he got the first goal I was proved right, but then he disappeared. But he was around for the second goal as well, which was pleasing."

Smith was as stunned as everyone else at Cardiff's defeat.

"It's weird, there's no explaining the results which are going on."

Goalscorer Davis said: "I'm pleased in one respect but disappointed in another with only getting a point.

"It gave us a lifeline really. When it got to 2-2 I fancied us to get another one and Mark Watson had a great chance with a header and he was unlucky to just put it wide.

"We got a good rollicking from Denis at half-time and the lads reacted very well to it. He's right, careers are on the line.

"Personally, I like managers who are straight. if you know where you stand, that's the best way to be."