MICHAEL Appleton felt Oxford United’s performance deserved more than their 2-0 win against Cambridge United, but was delighted to finish on a high in front of the home fans.

The success was only the side’s seventh in 23 home league games this season, but no-one could grumble about the way they bowed out at the Kassam Stadium.

Appleton’s only slight frustration was they did not add to first-half goals from Kemar Roofe and Danny Hylton after the break, when Cambridge were on the rack.

The United head coach said: “You’ve got to give credit Cambridge, they did a lot of good last-ditch defending.

“I thought our play at times in the second half was very good.

“It would’ve been nice to get four or five, but ultimately I’m delighted with a clean sheet and to win the game.

“The supporters were magnificent.

“I think they recognised the lads were trying to be positive on what is a difficult surface.”

There was a question mark over whether United had scored a third goal shortly after the break.

Alex MacDonald thought his shot had crossed the line before it was scrambled clear.

Appleton was not sure, but pointed out there would have been no doubt in a Premier League game, which uses goalline technology.

He said: “I know there’s a cost to everything you bring into the game, but the more technology the better because fine lines make the difference between winning and losing.”

The most worrying moment of the afternoon came when Johnny Mullins was carried off with a head injury, which was later diagnosed as concussion.

The defender fell awkwardly after being challenged by Tom Elliott.

Appleton was critical of the refereeing in the minutes leading up to the incident, but did not think the striker had intentionally caused the problem.

He said: “I felt there were a lot of fouls going unpunished in the early part of the game.

“I don’t think it was a malicious challenge, it certainly didn’t look it.”