SHAUN Derry was thrilled everyone at Oxford United could get that winning feeling back after a morale-boosting victory against Plymouth Argyle.

Jamie Mackie and Curtis Nelson netted in a 2-0 success – their first in nine games – which lifted them off the foot of the Sky Bet League One table.

United were well aware defeat in such a crunch game would leave them adrift at the bottom, but they rose to the occasion.

Derry said: “We don’t like going home and feeling the disappointment.

“We can smell the disappointment around the stadium, but it is days like this where you want to go home feeling exhausted on the back of a victory.

“Our sole concern was this game. I think when you just focus on the one game it doesn’t half help you.”

He added: “It was a collective display. That includes the fans, I thought they were very good.

“I’m really pleased to get another clean sheet, that’s two on the bounce, but we’re not going to get carried away.

“We don’t get carried away through disappointment and we sure won’t get carried away through excitement.”

The result eased the pressure on United and in particular Karl Robinson, who has been the focus of much of the criticism for a poor start to the season.

The head coach appeared to have a lower profile than normal for spells in the game, while Derry took over the post-match media duties.

The first-team coach joked they had spiked Robinson’s drink at the interval to keep him calm, but was pleased the U’s boss could savour a good result.

“We put something in his tea at half-time just to settle the nerves for him,” Derry said.

“The good thing about Karl is what you see is what you get.

“Emotionally he controls that really well 99 per cent of the time. I’m delighted for him, really delighted.”

He added: “Having gained the opportunity to know what he’s like in the last three or four months I know he’s a very good manager.

“I think through adversity you gain strength.

“This is probably the first time he’s had to encounter it in his career and that’s difficult.

“I’ve stood where Karl is at this moment in time on the back of some difficult results and performances.

“But I think you need to look at yourself in the mirror and say ‘am I doing the job to the best of my ability?’

“And Karl can honestly turn round and say that he is.”