Columbus Crew head coach Robert Warzycha has heaped praise on midfielder Duncan Oughton.

Warzycha used the central midfielder on the wing for the first time in about six years in the 3-1 win against Real Salt Lake on the weekend and it paid dividends.

"There was a lot of one-touch passes on (Oughton's) side," Warzycha said. "That's how we broke the pressure. Duncan did very well."

Forward Jason Garey joined the coach in lauding the 32-year old New Zealander.

"The old guy out there," Garey.

"He's just so smart and knows the game and was able to control the game a lot of times, slow it down when we needed to slow it down and speed it up when we needed to speed it up."