JORDAN Graham was delighted to be the hero as Oxford United finally broke their duck away from home.

The winger’s magnificent 40th-minute free-kick proved the difference as the U’s beat Blackpool 1-0 at Bloomfield Road on Saturday.

Graham’s strike was the one moment of brilliance in a fixture starved of any real quality.

But that was of no concern to United as their first away win of the season in Sky Bet League One helped them climb out of the relegation zone.

Graham was thrilled to send an impressive travelling support of 818 home happy and revealed his winning goal came off the back of a chat with boss Karl Robinson the night before.

“It was nice,” he said. “I work a lot in training on set-pieces.

PICTURES: Gallery of Saturday's match

“Me and the gaffer were having a deep conversation on my delivery and how to improve it in the hotel (on Friday), so I was kind of feeling good about them.

“I just said to Garbs (Luke Garbutt) ‘leave it, let me hit it, I feel good’ and luckily it went exactly where I wanted it to go.”

The 23-year-old added: “I said to the gaffer I feel like I’m due a good goal from a free-kick.

“I was actually going to try to hit the back post for Nelse (Curtis Nelson), but I just thought ‘you know what it’s in shooting range for me’ and I just went for it and it paid off.”

READ AGAIN: Oxford United's win at Blackpool is music to Robinson's ears

Graham’s sublime strike – his first for the club, which ended a barren run in front of goal in senior football dating back to December 2015 – helped the U’s climb two points above the drop zone.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee was under no illusions about the importance of the victory off the back of a gloomy seven days which included defeats to Peterborough United and Accrington Stanley and more off-field woes.

He said: “It’s massive for us – our first away win of the season.

“We’ve been desperate for this and it couldn’t have really come at a better time.

“We came here knowing and believing we could win.

“A free-kick proved the difference but I think our shape throughout the game was phenomenal and it’s allowed us to get the three points.”

He added: “We knew we had to come here and get something.

“I think the boys were spot-on, each and every one of us.

“From the staff all the way through to the young boys that were on the bench, I think everyone really wanted it and the performance showed that.”

The victory was only United’s second since they beat Blackpool in mid-December.

Sam Long was recalled to the side at right-back and was pleased to be part of a dogged defensive effort.

He said: “We dealt with their long balls really well.

“I feel like it was a very good defensive performance, and a really good three points away from home.”