United hammer seven-year high

8:00am Monday 18th August 2008

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Darren Patterson saluted the character his players showed after Oxford United ran up their biggest score for seven years.

The U's boss said it took a lot of backbone to come through against Eastbourne Borough on Saturday when the team were having a torrid time in defence - and they demonstrated what they are capable of by smashing six goals.

The 6-3 win over newly-promoted Eastbourne Borough came after United had failed to find the net in their first two matches.

It was the first time since December 2001, when Oxford hammered Halifax 6-1, that they had hit six goals in a game.

Patterson said: "I'm very pleased we won the game. As I'd stated in midweek, it was a must-win game.

"We started the game superbly. With the ball we look as though we can score goals. Without it today - and I'll be polite - our defending was poor.

"In the dressing room, though, we've praised them because it's the first time they've showed a lot of backbone.

"After they equalised to make it 3-3, we could easily have gone under, but we showed a lot of character and could have run in seven or eight."

And United ran up their big score without the injured Phil Trainer and Jamie Guy, and despite losing midfielder Joe Burnell, who hobbled off with a knee injury after 17 minutes.

Summer signing James Constable bagged a brace, but it was Yemi Odubade who helped make it all happen, with a brilliant performance against his old club as Oxford finally got their Blue Square Premier season up and running.

"I've stated from the off that I wanted to score goals," Patterson said.

"We've got someone out who plays wide left who scores nearly double figures, and we've got a lad who tore people to shreds out, and we still scored six goals.

"We've obviously got to defend a darned sight better than that because we'll be coming up against better defences.

"Yemi was the best player on the pitch by a country mile.

"It was massively important for Constable to get on the scoresheet. I'm chuffed for him because he deserves it."

Out-of-favour midfielder Eddie Hutchinson also impressed after coming off the bench to replace Burnell.

The former Brentford man hit the bar with a header, and scored.

After the game, Hutchinson said he still wanted to stay at Oxford.

"I won't be bullied into leaving," he insisted.

Patterson has wanted to offload him, because he's the squad's biggest earner, to bring in other players.

"Eddie did very, very well, I'm pleased for him," said United's manager. "We'll just have to see what happens with him."