A THRILLED Michael Appleton described Oxford United’s 1-0 win against AFC Wimbledon as the biggest result of their campaign.

His side have played much better during a strong start to the season, but they found a way to come out on top thanks to George Baldock’s 80th-minute effort.

The U’s head coach admitted he had big concerns going into the game about how the team would cope in the wake of Tuesday’s energy-sapping 2-0 win over Swindon Town.

So to emerge from a physical clash with three points was just perfect.

Appleton said: “It’s the best result of the season – and I don’t say that tongue-in-cheek.

“I wouldn’t say I was dreading this game, but I was aware how difficult it was going to be.

“I didn’t want to make a big thing of it to the players, I wanted to concentrate on all the positive stuff.

“The fact we have got through and picked up the three points, I’m delighted.”

He added: “The players have shown a real sense of professionalism.

“I enjoyed the way they went about their business, because it would’ve been easy to lose this game after what happened on Tuesday."

“We had 18 players, plus the lads who weren’t involved, making sure that wasn’t going to happen.”

The result means United have lost just once in 20 league games, a run which stretches back to March.

It meant while Appleton was not sure whether the U’s would win the game, he was certain they would not lose.

He said: “There’s a steel about us that we weren’t going to lose, I think there’s a real belief in the changing room that wasn’t going to happen.

“I just wanted that something in the final third, which I knew was going to be difficult because of the energy we used up on Tuesday.

“Those types of strikes end up in Row Z if you try to hit it too hard, but George hit it true and it was a great finish.”