KARL Robinson is looking onwards and upwards after Oxford United climbed out of the relegation zone for the first time this season.

And the head coach said his side’s battling display in their 1-0 victory over Gillingham was down to help from Army officers and an inspiring team talk on military day at the Kassam Stadium.

Hit by injury, suspension and international duty, United’s squad was again looking threadbare for the Sky Bet League One contest.

But, following the side’s recent trip to St George’s Barracks, near Bicester, Robinson invited Lt Col Richard Hallett into the dressing room to help rally the troops.

And United completed their mission to stretch their unbeaten league run to seven games courtesy of James Henry’s penalty and climbed out of the danger zone as a result.

“We asked the lieutenant colonel to do the second part of my team talk,” said Robinson.

“We have a huddle in the dressing room before every game about what it takes to be a team and what we’re going to do for each other and he made a bit of a show of me.

“He spoke about going into war-torn countries and the looks you have on your faces when you go and fight for queen and country.

“The memorial before the game and the singing of the national anthem was a real testament and a credit to Oxford United Football Club and the fans.

“It was a real thank-you to the people who serve us all over the world and puts football into perspective.

“But after that whistle goes you can see why you love it – that was a real helter-skelter horrible football match.”

Victory, coupled with Bristol Rovers’ defeat at Scunthorpe United, saw the U’s climb above the Pirates and out of the bottom four.

It has been a remarkable turnaround for United who, had they lost to Plymouth Argyle last month, would have been cut adrift at the foot of the table.

They are now among a congested pack of teams and five points above the bottom three, but Robinson is not content with United’s position and wants more.

He said: “Since half-time of the first game of the season we’ve been cemented in there, so it is a bit of a positive for us to look at for a short period of time.

“Our objective is to not just be outside the relegation zone in League One, so I don’t really go ‘wow, we’re fifth from bottom, wow how great are we’.

“If I was, I think the fans would expect me to walk away from their football club as a disappointed failure as a manager.”