SIMON Eastwood believes Oxford United’s improvements in game management have been key to them pulling away from relegation trouble.

The goalkeeper has been overworked this season, but the U’s have conceded just two goals in the last four games.

Their second win in that run came with a 1-0 victory at Doncaster Rovers, courtesy of James Henry’s header, which should be enough to preserve the club’s status in Sky Bet League One.

While United did not adopt the same spoiling tactics used as they were edged out by leaders Wigan Athletic last week, Karl Robinson’s side did slow the game when required at Doncaster.

Eastwood said: “I think we’ve managed it well.

“A lot of lads haven’t done this before, like the time-wasting we used at Wigan and worked it to our advantage to stay in the game for as long as we could.

“The other night we were very unlucky but we made sure we stayed in the game as long as we could (at Doncaster) and luckily Jamo could nick it.”

United still needed Eastwood to be on top of his game to keep a clean sheet and he made superb stops to thwart Matty Blair and John Marquis.

“They were good saves,” he said.

“I think the (better) one was in the second half where it came across the box and he (Blair) had the whole goal to shoot at and I just tried to make myself as big as possible.

“Luckily I dived the right way and made the save.”

The stops meant Eastwood and his teammates could celebrate at the final whistle with the 1,018 fans who had made the journey north.

United’s No 1 said: “Credit to them, it’s a long way.

“When the players needed the fans to get behind them, they came in their numbers and showed their support.

“It shows what a good club it is.”