ALMOST 10,000 people went berserk when Chris Maguire scored his second goal in last week’s derby, but the broadest smile in the Kassam Stadium belonged to a man at the back of the South Stand.

The forward’s block to charge down Swindon Town goalkeeper Lawrence Vigoroux, sending the ball rebounding into the net to make it 2-0, looked inspired.

In fact, it was an opportunity which had been spotted days earlier by Oxford United’s video analyst Dan Bond.

“There are weeks where it doesn’t come off, but when it does it’s an unbelievable feeling,” he said.

“You’re so happy for the lads because they’re the ones who are out there, but you’re proud you’ve helped.

“With Swindon looking to play out from the back, we did a 90-minute session on Thursday playing against that and where we were going to press and set traps.”

The Robins’ commitment to always build from the back made them one of the more straightforward opponents to analyse.

Others can be trickier to figure out, but Bond watches five games from each side to build a picture of their strengths and weaknesses.

Clips are then selected and discussed with Michael Appleton and his coaching team, before being presented to the players.

Bond said: “You just try to pick out patterns in their play.

“You learn to pick up things and it gets a bit quicker over time.

“You aim that by the time Saturday comes around the lads have a good idea of what’s going to happen.”

Although video analysts are the norm at Sky Bet League One level, it does not mean all are equal.

Long hours of staring at footage on a laptop may have produced nuggets of useful information, but you still need the manager to take it on board.

Bond has nothing to worry about with Appleton, who insisted on new technology when he was appointed at United.

But a Whatsapp group of fellow analysts reveals he is a in a fortunate position.

Bond said: “I speak to analysts at other clubs who know what’s going to happen in a game, but haven’t had the exposure time with the players that I have to pass the information across.

“The gaffer’s been brilliant because he really uses it.

“He gives us the opportunity to express ourselves, but for me the most important aspect is he uses it.

“ Often coaches are stuck in their ways and aren’t open to new ideas or allowing change to happen.”

Which just leaves one more question: what’s the plan to beat MK Dons?

“That’s top secret,” Bond says, before turning back to his laptop.