MICHAEL Collins revealed a team meeting last week laid the platform for Oxford Un-ited’s gritty 1-0 win over Newport County.

The midfielder scored the winner on Saturday, securing only United’s second win in Sky Bet League Two this season.

It transformed the mood a week after crashing to a 2-0 defeat at Luton Town.

After that match, the squad’s Monday morning meeting saw several points raised, including the need to improve their workrate when not in possession.

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Tyrone Barnett’s 55th-minute red card provided an immediate opportunity for Michael Appleton’s men to put it into practice – and Collins was thrilled they passed the test.

He said: “We had a meeting and we felt there wasn’t a whole lot going wrong, but there were certain areas we need to brush up on.

“One of them was certainly we need to do the ugly stuff better.

“That’s one of the key traits unfortunately in League Two, there are a lot of ugly sides to the game and if ever we needed to show it, this was the time.

He added: “To play in a game where we’ve really had to dig in and do the ugly side and come away with three points is very pleasing.

“Also, if there was anyone in that changing room doubting we could do the ugly side, this has proved we can.”

It gives Collins confidence United can put a strong run together, which they were unable to do after their other league win, a 3-1 success against Accrington Stanley.

He said: “We know the areas now where we probably failed off the back of the Accrington game.

“Maybe we got a little bit of a false sense of security that it was our time.

“It’s up to us to make sure we come out with the same result again.

“We can tough it out, but when push comes to shove I also think we’re one of the better footballing teams in the division.

“If we can marry those two, it’s a very good mix.”

For the moment United remain in the lower reaches of the table, but Collins is looking up, not down.

He said: “I’ve done a few interviews where people have mentioned relegation and that’s nonsense.

“I’m still looking at the top end of the table and there’s absolutely no two ways about it, we will build on this now.

“I’m still 100 per cent confident we will end up where we want to be come the end of the season.”

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