SAM Long was impressed by how his Oxford United teammates got to grips with a difficult playing surface in their 4-0 win at Burton Albion.

Both wide areas, plus the penalty boxes, were sandy and bobbly, while swirling winds added to the tricky conditions.

United didn’t move away from their game though, and were crisp with their passing, and quick on the break.

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Long said: “We knew it was going to be a difficult afternoon with the conditions and the pitch, and the way they play makes it difficult when they go quite direct, but we dealt with it really well.

“I thought we moved the ball really well on a difficult pitch. The second goal showed how when we got it right, we can really open teams up.

“We were clinical in front of goal and a lot better than we have been in recent weeks.”

Long was equally impressed with the clean sheet against the Brewers, backing up the one from Easter Monday against Fleetwood Town.

He said: “We know we haven’t got enough clean sheets this year, but we’ve worked really hard on trying to correct that, and I think it’s really starting to show.

“We’ve had a few tough games where teams have been direct and put us under pressure, and I think we’ve dealt with it really well, and it gives us a platform to build on when we do keep a clean sheet.”