Chris Wilder accepted that Oxford United’s 2-0 victory over Northampton on Saturday was all about the result rather than the performance.

Goals from Tom Craddock in the 50th minute and Deane Smalley three minutes from time saw the U’s end their seven-game winless streak with a hard-fought success at the Kassam Stadium.

However, one thing that the United manager was not too happy about was a dispute between striker Craddock and midfielder Peter Leven over a late U’s penalty.

With the score at 1-0 in the 85th minute, Craddock, last season’s spot-kick taker, refused to give the ball to this season’s designated man Leven after being fouled in the box, and proceeded to blast his penalty high and wide.

Wilder said that it was lucky that the incident did not cost United dear, but says that he does not want to see a repeat.

“I’ve given the players my opinion on it,” Wilder said. “They should have sorted it out before.

“I’m on the side of Lev, if I’m honest. He scored the last one and I’d be disappointed (not to take it).”

The dispute is all the more ironic as Craddock and Leven travel to the club together on a daily basis.

“They are passionate boys and they’ve had a row,” said Wilder. “There have been words said, but it shows what they’re all about.

“If they were pussy-cats, I wouldn’t be happy, but yes, they’ve had a nip at each other.

“They have shown that they care, but that’s all done now, all done and dusted. We move on.”

United’s manager knows his team can play better, but after a 0-0 draw at Morecambe last week ended a run of five straight defeats, knows how important the result was ahead of the festive period.

“It (the run) has knocked us, as it does when you lose games,” he said.

“But last week was a big result for us and the belief is coming back.

“We will get better, we know we can improve, but we hope that this will be the first of many good results over the Christmas period.”

l Match report: Pages 34-35 l More reaction: Page 33