Jim Smith saluted Oxford United's resolve after they held on to win 1-0 at Southport last night despite Rob Duffy's first penalty miss of the season.

It turned out to be a great night for Oxford, because Nationwide Conference leaders Dagenham & Redbridge conceded an 89th-minute goal as they were held 1-1 at home by lowly Stafford Rangers.

A rare point dropped by the Daggers meant United closed the gap on them to eight points.

Danny Rose (pictured) earned the U's a fourth successive victory with a glorious second-half strike at Haig Avenue, for his first league goal, but Billy Turley was the main hero for two cracking saves.

Smith said: "We wanted a victory tonight and we got it. But there was a lot of resolution about it to get that result. And that's another part of what you've got to have if you want to get the three points."

He added: "It was a great goal and Billy kept us in it."

The U's didn't match their football of the weekend, when they beat Stevenage, but they had several disruptions at the back, with Phil Gilchrist and Matty Day coming off with injuries, and Barry Quiinn also feeling sore.

Said Smith: "It was after the Lord Mayor's Show a little bit after Saturday, but you're not going to reach that level all the time.

"As well as the pitch looked, it was very heavy. There was not a lot of life about it."

United's manager admitted being disappointed by Duffy's penalty miss, and felt he should have tried to hit through the ball rather than a clever dink - which didn't come off because the keeper didn't move early, and saved it comfortably.

"Robbie has been a fantastic penalty taker, but I was a bit disappointed that he decided to take the spot-kick the way he did in our position and with it being only 1-0.

"Once you've done your clever one, you should stick to your normal one, because if the keeper stands still and you do hit it a bit sloppy, he saves that.

"He should have made sure by blasting it."