Stellar Stan Mills hails Oxford United

Oxford United player of the match Stan Mills has praised his team's recent turnaround in form after their 3-1 win over Preston North End.

The winger performed admirably at both ends of the pitch to help the U's secure consecutive wins for the first time in over a year and managed an assist at Deepdale when his shot on goal was converted by striker Will Lankshear.

After finding the lead just five minutes in through Michal Helik, Milutin Osmajic levelled the score line shortly after.

Lankshear restored the lead in the second period before Ciaron Brown put the icing on the cake just after the hour mark.

Oxford United's Will Lankshear celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Sky Bet Championship match at Deepdale, Preston (Image: Gary Oakley/PA Wire)

Oxford have found form at a crucial time ahead of a huge last 10 games of the Championship season.

"It was massive," Mills declared after Friday night's victory.

"Coming here tonight, we knew it was going to be a battle.

"We spoke before that we need to start putting back-to-back performances together – that hasn’t been good enough this season – and tonight we’ve backed up our win against West Brom.

Preston North End's Milutin Osmajic (right) celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game with team-mate Alfie Devine during the Sky Bet Championship match at Deepdale, Preston (Image: Gary Oakley/PA Wire)

"I think maybe in recent times, we might’ve gone under in that sort of situation but we’re full of belief in that changing room and we know that we’ve got match-winners in the strikers.

"We pride ourselves on set plays and we’ve scored two tonight.

"We’ve got ourselves back ahead [after conceding] and we’ve seen it out and we’re going to try and make a habit of that.

"We don’t care about the teams around us; we’re just going to try and do what we do and try and get as many points on the board as possible.

Preston North End's Alfie Devine (second left) attempts a headed shot towards goal during the Sky Bet Championship match at Deepdale, Preston (Image: Gary Oakley/PA Wire)

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"We’ve got six in the last two games, and we’ve got 10 massive games left and we’re going to keep trying to put as many points on the board to stay in this league."

The 22-year-old was defensively astute as well as enthusiastic offensively in a performance which his head coach Matt Bloomfield praised after the game.

READ MORE: Bloomfield offers 'clinical' U's verdict after Preston win

"[I had] a slightly different role tonight," Mills admitted.

Preston North End's Callum Lang (centre) is tackled by Oxford United's Stanley Mills (left) and Cameron Brannagan during the Sky Bet Championship match at Deepdale, Preston (Image: Gary Oakley/PA Wire)

"I think I needed to do slightly more of a defensive job in that second half and I’m going to do everything I can for the team, no matter what position I’m in.

READ MORE: Preston North End 1-3 Oxford United match report at Deepdale

"I’m just going to keep fighting and try and do what I do on the pitch."

The passion and fight shown from Mills and his colleagues is something that sets them apart from big-name strugglers such as West Brom and Leicester City who seem to be in a toxic spiral towards the Championship drain.

Blackburn Rovers and Charlton Athletic are the Yellows' next two visitors to the Kassam in two big bottom-of-the-table bouts.