Oxford United's new boss Malcolm Shotton has warned his players - you've got to earn your place every match.

Shotton, given a magnificent reception by the fans on his return to the Manor Ground on Saturday, says he's not one to have favourites and stick by them through thick and thin.

He'll pick the team as he sees fit, and judge them by their form and appetite during games and out on the training ground.

In the wake of the 1-0 win over bottom club Portsmouth, which brought United three priceless league points at the weekend, Shotton declared: "We'll get better and we'll work harder.

"We'll work hard from Monday onwards.

"All the players have got to fight for their places and if one's played badly there's no guarantee he'll be in the side just because he's always been in it. I want people who work."

Shotton made an immediate impact by getting involved from the moment he arrived on Saturday.

He went into the dressing room at half-time to gee up the players and he was down by the dug-out shouting out instructions to individual players.

It was no coincidence that the mood around the ground was much more optimistic than it has been over the past three months.

Shotton's new charges certainly left it late to give their boss the perfect start, Joey Beauchamp hitting the winner in the 90th minute from an excellent cross by substitute Mark Angel.

But Shotton passed the credit for the substitution on to former boss Malcolm Crosby who has become his assistant.

Shotton said: "It was a great start and I'm delighted for Malcolm Crosby to get the win.

"He's worked all week with the players. All I did was tweak a bit at half-time with a bit of technical advice. Malcolm and I felt we could get at them a bit more."

Shotton said he was pleased with the way the players had responded with him, and the reception from United supporters left him speechless.

"What can you say? Every time I have come back, whether it's been as a player, coach or whatever, they have been fantastic to me.

"They were magnificent the way they got behind the team and in the second half towards the end it was like having an extra man . . . sometimes you can feel them sucking the ball into the net at that London Road end." Shotton declared his determination to make a success of his new job. He was set to sit down today with managing director Keith Cox to thrash out his contract and discuss what funds, if any, he has available.

"Being No 1 at Oxford United is very important to me. It's a step up for me but I'm not frightened by it. I'm looking forward to the challenge enormously."

United's players have been impressed by his enthusiasm and energy already. And they know what he means when he says no-one's guaranteed their place.

Midfielder David Smith was such a virtual ever-present under Denis Smith that the fans joked he was his son.

He said: "It's a whole new ball game now. Denis knew the players he wanted for his team but the new manager is going to pick the best players as he sees it out on the pitch.

"It keeps the older players like myself on our toes.

"He came into the dressing room and showed the lads he was really up for it.

"I think Malcolm Crosby made the right decision. It's someone new we've got to impress and even if we've done that, we've got to do it again next week."

The win over Portsmouth could prove crucial at the end of the season, as much for the point it denied Pompey.

"The lads are really relieved and very happy in the dressing room. It was a very, very important win," said Smith.

Said Crosby: "I picked the team but you've got to give credit to the players.

"We also had a little bit of luck which we haven't had in the last few games."

Crosby said he couldn't see any reason why he wouldn't be able to work with Shotton.

"When you're in football and you're looking at the same ideas and have the same principles you should be able to work together."

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