PEP Clotet hailed Oxford United's defensive effort as they ground out a 1-0 win at home to Blackpool.

The scrappy game was instantly forgettable, but the U's took the three points courtesy of Jon Obika's 80th-minute header.

It came after Simon Eastwood had made four smart saves to keep out the visitors, who had won the reverse fixture 3-1 in September.

Clotet, United's manager, admitted the quality on show was below par, but was pleased with the resolve his side showed, especially in the way Blackpool's three central midfielders were handled.

He said: "We had to do a lot of things right to get the three points in the way we got it.

"It wasn’t the best day for us going forward, we took some bad decisions when it came to attacking the box and we didn’t have the quality we normally have in the middle of the park to turn those balls in the build-up into attacks.

"But the team did an unbelievable effort all over and defensively I think we did a brilliant game.

"We managed to control with our two midfielders their three in the middle.

"They never managed to control the game and we know how good their players are from the game at their place.

"The team put a lot of intensity and did the right things, helping each other press all the time.

"Maybe we could have done a little bit better next to the box going forward but I think the fans have to be very satisfied with the effort that our players put in."

For Obika it was a third goal in as many games and the striker knew all it would take was a touch to convert Alex Mowatt's free-kick.

He said: "We’re blessed with a lot of people who can deliver great balls.

"With Mowie you know you just have to get in the right positions. I’m glad I got in front of my marker and put it away.

"The pace was there on the ball, so a glance was good enough.

"There will be many games like this and we have to make sure we’re the ones that win them.

For Eastwood, the pick of his saves was a one-handed effort to thwart Viv Solomon-Otabor in the second half.

He said: "It’s long distance and moved in the air more than you’d think.

"You just want to get something on it because you’ve seen them go in many times and it makes the keeper looks a bit silly."