New boss Graham Rix said he could not defend his players after Oxford United pressed the self-destruct button again on Saturday.

The U's blew a glorious chance to register their first victory under Rix, and greatly boost their play-off chances.

They battled back from a goal down to lead Cambridge with six minutes remaining, only to lose concentration again and concede a costly equaliser.

And with Yeovil and Northampton both winning 2-0 away, United's only hope of reaching the play-offs is if their rivals slip up.

"I said to the guys, for the first time since I've been here, I can't feel sorry for them because I think they shot themselves in the foot," Rix said.

"To fight back the way we did and keep going, then take the lead with five or six minutes to go and just switch off is unacceptable.

"The one word I write on the board when we have a team meeting every week, and the word I say every day in training, is concentration, and the lads know they didn't concentrate.

"I'm usually very positive and will protect my players, but I've said today, I can't protect you because you've shot yourselves in the foot."