Liam Manning keeps Oxford grounded after big win

Liam Manning insisted Oxford will not get carried away after a 3-1 win at fellow high-flyers Stevenage strengthened their position inside the top two.

The game of the day in League One pitted third against second and Greg Leigh’s birthday brace ensured the points returned with the Us, who came from behind following Jamie Reid’s opener.

Oxford skipper Elliott Moore sealed the points late on to take Oxford three points clear of their opponents with a game in hand but Manning will not be resting on his laurels at this early stage.

“We’ve achieved nothing yet,” he said. “We’ve got off to a good start, but there’s still a long way to go.

“There’s no feeling like we’ve cracked anything. We’ve got to stay together, stick together. I’m pleased with the players, I keep saying it but they’re the ones who go out and do the job.

“It’s a big win. It’s a really tough place to come with their style and their relentless nature.

“They build up a lot of momentum with their directness and we really stood up to that.

“The big thing was we showed some real bravery. The lads are terrific, I can’t speak highly enough of them.

“It was another experience we’ve ticked off with going behind in a game to then respond and bounce back.

“Greg was excellent. We know what we’ve got with Greg. He gives us that physicality and gives us a threat going forward.

“He took his goals really well. I’m really pleased for him.”

Boro flew out of the traps and saw Carl Piergianni’s header cleared off the line before Reid’s seventh of the season gave them a 15th-minute lead.

But Leigh equalised just eight minutes later and blasted the visitors in front early in the second half, with Moore sealing the outcome late on.

Stevenage boss Steve Evans said: “It was a good start, we were the dominant side and got the goal.

“In the second half, those back boys who have been real leaders for us were poor. We were poor defensively and that gave them a little bit of a lifeline to go 2-1 in front.

“I think there’s only Luther Wildin who can go home happy that he did his job tonight. The other four have not.

“They’ve not done their jobs and two or three of them had bad games individually and were as poor as I’ve seen them.

“But they’re good players, they’re good men. They’ll take that criticism where it’s meant.

“We’re only 10 games in and I see guys next to me celebrating like they’re 35 games in. When they’ve won a promotion they can come and talk to me and I’ll respect them more.”