DES Buckingham was full of praise for two-goal Mark Harris after the Welsh striker’s brace helped Oxford United take all three points at Carlisle United.

Harris’ brace took him to four goals in four games since the turn of the year, after a barren spell in front of goal which lasted 11 games across all competitions.

However, after goals in the New Year’s Day win at Charlton Athletic, plus in the Emirates FA Cup defeat to Coventry City, Harris scored twice in Cumbria, taking his tally to 10 for the season in total.

U’s head coach Buckingham said: “He’s getting some reward, if you want to put it that way, for the effort he put in during that spell where he wasn’t scoring.

“We speak about standards and holding ourselves to that, and not getting too high or too low on performances and the results.

“That period when he wasn’t scoring, he was creating, they were coming off bars, they were coming off posts, and the keepers were making some wonderful saves.

“It’s so pleasing now to see those efforts not hit he keeper or the post, but actually hit the back of the net.”

Elliott Moore also returned to the side after missing the two previous games with illness, and as well as offering his usual defensive solidity, he provided a delightful assist for Tyler Goodrham by cutting through the Carlisle defence with a lovely through ball.

Buckingham said: “We’ve missed him the last two games with the illness he’s had, and I can’t stress enough, he was ill.

“You’ve seen the experience he brings, and the calmness he brings, not just to the back line with his leadership, but he’s an excellent player as well.”

Buckingham added: “We’re slowly starting to get right, whether that be the performances or people coming back in.

“It’s about trying to remain constant to that, and if we do that, we’ve said all along that the performance will come, and it’s important with 20 league games to go, we pick up as many points as possible.”