Oxford boss Chris Wilder saluted Tom Craddock and his strike partner James Constable after the 5-0 hammering of Accrington.
Constable, who took the captain's armband for Saturday's League Two clash at the Kassam Stadium in light of Jake Wright's suspension, did not find the net but combined superbly with Craddock to give Stanley a torrid time.
Wilder said: "Obviously Tom will get the headlines, and rightly so for his goals, but I thought our skipper was outstanding.
"I'll be the first to admit the part Constable played. I thought he was back to his best, he was a handful and a menace, and took the heat off Tommy, who got the goals."
For Oxford it was a fine response following the 3-0 defeat they suffered in Monday's televised game at Port Vale.
Wilder said: "It's been a difficult week for our players. I asked a few questions of them after that match, when we really were not good, and they have responded well."
