ROB Hall credited boss Karl Robinson for lifting Oxford United’s performance level in time to race clear of the relegation battle.

The 2-1 come-from-behind victory against Rochdale was the side’s third win in four games and rubber-stamped their place in Sky Bet League One for next season.

United collected just two points from boss Robinson’s first five matches in charge.

But Hall, who played under him at Milton Keynes Dons, believes he has made a big impact.

He said: “The first day he came in, he told us exactly what he wants and the boys have responded well.

“Standards have risen, as they tend to do when a new gaffer comes in, but he really has detailed what he wanted.

“And I think it shows on the pitch and the results we’ve had lately that the boys have taken it on board.”

He added: “We said before the game ‘Rochdale need to win, but we want to win’.

“We had to make sure our mentality was right and to turn it around like we did is a credit to all the boys.”

While United never dropped lower than 17th place, they were vulnerable until the recent upturn in form took them out of danger.

Hall said: “It is a relief for the players because we’ve been looking over our shoulders for a while now and it’s dragged out for a very long time.

“I think we’d had a lot of hard results and hard decisions go against us.

“But the boys have been there, taken it on the chin and we’ve put it right in a lot of performances.

“I’m more happy for the lads than anything.”