Adams salutes Tranmere spirit

Micky Adams admits his Tranmere side had to fend off fatigue to beat Oxford 2-1 and book a glamour FA Cup tie with Swansea.

Alfie Potter - who netted for non-league Havant & Waterlooville against Liverpool in the competition seven years ago - created another moment of magic after glancing in on 29 minutes. But Oxford's lead was to be short-lived as Kayode Odejayi bundled home seven minutes later and Max Power applied the winning touch in the second half with a clinical finish from a tight angle. Rovers had their hearts in mouths when Owain Fon Williams kept out Michael Collins in injury time and Adams says his team's resolve saw them through to the end. He said: "I'm pleased with the win and pleased we are through to the next round. Whether we deserved it or not is another matter. I thought Oxford were excellent - out-passed us, outplayed us. I think everybody could see that. "They really did pass the ball well and we struggled at times but one thing I've just said to the players is we've shown a lot of spirit to come from a goal down. "I think we looked leggy all game. It was a heavy pitch and I think the schedule we've had recently with the Johnstone's Paint Trophy games has caught up with us somewhat. So it's all about rest and recuperation now before we play Cambridge on Friday. "It's not an excuse for not passing the ball right and not defending properly. The smallest player on the pitch scores the first goal, which is disappointing from our point of view, but we have shown terrific character and spirit and a bit of resilience at the end." Oxford will look to regroup back in League Two action against Hartlepool on Saturday but boss Michael Appleton believes it should well have been his side through to the third round. He said: "The players will be a little bit gutted but it's cup football and it didn't quite work for us. "I can't remember them having any opportunity other than the two that they scored. When you come away in a cup tie and limit the opposition to two chances then you should be winning the game. "I just said to the players we were a little bit naive at times, certainly in the first half when we had possession of the ball and we got into the opposition's final third, we weren't clinical enough. "I thought we were the ones who were going to score again near the end. I think we create three or four opportunities after they scored the goal. "We've not gone through but we get an opportunity to go to Hartlepool and continue the form that we've shown recently in the league."