OXFORD United’s first-team coach, Andy Melville, said that the desire of the players to end their poor run was very evident in Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Morecambe.

United produced a really gritty all-round team display to end their five-game losing run, and Melville believes that things are now looking up once again after a miserable Novem- ber.

“Everyone put in a real shift today,” Melville said. “We were very professional and looked really solid.”

And Melville said that credit must go to boss Chris Wilder and assistant Mickey Lewis for building a squad who are able to deal with the challenges and expectations.

“We have been on a bad run lately, but the manager has undeservedly had a bit of stick for things,” Melville said.

“I have been back here for two-and-a-half years and the team now from what it was then is streets apart.

“Credit for that has got to go to the manager and Mickey Lewis as well.

“The supporters got right behind us today and it’s a really big thing having everyone sticking together because you will have a few dodgy results in football – that’s the nature of the game – everyone needs to be in it together.

“We are working very hard behind the scenes and hopefully this result can be the start of a run for us.

“You always say in football that when you are on a run you try to keep it going, and when you lose a match, you want to start another unbeaten run as soon as possible, and that will be our aim now.”

The match saw Tom Craddock play 90 minutes for the first time this season, and defender Anthony Tonkin play for the first time since the opening day of the season.

“I know it has been said before, but we have not made a big issue out of the injuries we have had this season,” added Melville.

“Tonks is a good professional and Tommy gets you goals and they have both been a miss for us this season.

“We were monitoring Tom closely during the game and it was great for him to get 90 minutes under his belt.”

Paul McLaren, however missed the game through injury and Simon Heslop came off in the last minute having gone down injured.

Neither though, Melville says, are long-term problems.

“Paul had a bit of a calf strain in training yesterday (Friday), but we don’t think it’s anything too serious,” he explained.

“Simon’s looked bad, but we don’t think it is anything to worry about – I think it might have looked worse that it was.

“But we have a good squad here and are starting to get players back and hopefully that will help us go on a nice run over the next few weeks.”