Matos, who had lost his first two matches since taking charge, watched his side claim their first league victory in seven games thanks to Marko Stamenic’s first-half header — the club’s first set-piece goal of the season — and a spectacular volley from Josh Tymon.
“It was important for us to break the cycle after five defeats in a row, and a clean sheet was another step forward for us,” said Swansea head coach Matos, who stressed the result must be a launching pad rather than a conclusion.
“We need points and we need to take more steps forward. We have to improve in a few areas and we need to build more consistency in our game.”
With Portsmouth visiting on Tuesday in another key relegation scrap, Matos underlined the need for his side to build quickly on the breakthrough.
“When you build new ideas with wins, it’s 10 times easier because it gives the feeling that you are improving, but it’s just one step,” he said.
“We need to improve in a lot of areas on the game. We need to find the consistency, especially when we are in the second half, the ways that we need to control the game better.
“It was an important win – in this league you need points that's the truth – but we need to do the next steps.”
Swansea climbed to 20th, three points clear of the drop zone, but Matos said he is unsure whether Josh Key will be available against Portsmouth after illness ruled the defender out on Saturday.
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The head coach reserved special praise for Tymon, who created the opener and then struck what Oxford boss Gary Rowett later described as a goal “good enough to grace any game in the world.”
“It was a brilliant goal and I hope he can do it again. The goal was massive for us, but his performance was as well,” Matos said.
“He supported the attack from left back and gave the team balance, but his goal was the pinnacle of his performance.”
“He defended really good, stopped crosses, which is something massive especially in the Championship.
"He balanced the team, he supported the attack, he found ways to go to the last third as well, so I think that Tymo did a really good game and I'm really pleased.
Tymon’s display capped a first half dominated by Swansea, who capitalised on a stream of Oxford fouls.
The set-piece breakthrough came from his delivery, with Stamenic heading in moments before the left-back doubled the lead from 20 yards after Oxford failed to clear Eom Jisung’s free-kick.
Rowett admitted his side had contributed to their own problems.
“It was hugely frustrating because I expected us to show a bit more on the back of the win we had against Ipswich,” he said.
“We started well for the first 10-15 minutes but then allowed Swansea to dictate. We gave away too many silly fouls.
“They scored a set-piece goal and then a wonder goal that gave them a nice cushion at the end of the first half. The inconsistency we are showing is the most frustrating thing.”
Portsmouth arrive after their match at Charlton was abandoned due to a medical emergency in the stands. Charlton later confirmed a supporter had died.
“First my words to the family – I think that’s important to say,” Matos said.
“That is something we cannot change. What we can change, or what we need to do, is to recover well and do everything we can [to prepare for Portsmouth].
"The departments and the club help the players to recover, [we] find the best XI possible and compete again.”
