PEP Clotet revealed his unusually animated approach on the sidelines at Bristol Rovers was a planned tactic to help Oxford United.

The Spaniard has largely been a reserved presence in the technical area this season, but was transformed for the 1-0 win at the Memorial Stadium, courtesy of Alex Mowatt’s 82nd-minute strike.

United’s manager rarely took his place on the bench, instead preferring to applaud his side’s efforts, cajole them through the tricky moments and even got in a heated discussion with the fourth official at one stage.

Clotet felt it was just what United needed in a game which was always likely to be demanding physically.

He said: “I cannot have too much influence on what the players are doing on the pitch, but I always try to be very positive.

“Here I wanted to be lively and motivate them as much as possible from the side.

“The game was so intense that it required I put a bit more passion in to motivate the players to keep going.

“They had to put a lot of effort in and I think the fans kept me going as well a lot of the time.”

As well as sheer work-rate, United other key attribute was composure.

Clashes with Rovers always tend to be spicy affairs and referee Ross Joyce issued seven yellow cards, four of which were to the visitors.

Clotet knew keeping clear heads would be crucial.

United’s boss said: “We said at half-time it was critical to keep 11 men on the pitch to try to get a positive result.

“We tried to have a really high tempo and the game was really intense. But it’s a fine line between intensity and losing your positions – your intensity always has a limit.”