GOALS from James Roberts and Josh Ruffels could not prevent Oxford United's development side losing 3-2 at Cardiff City.

The visitors were 3-0 down at the break, but they came back strongly after the break.

Ruffels scored a penalty after Jonny Giles was fouled in the box, before Roberts cut the deficit with a neat finish from Josh Ashby's through ball.

It was a welcome return for the striker, on as a substitute, who has been out with a hamstring injury.

Assistant head coach Chris Allen said: "Credit to the lads for the way we came back into it but for some reason our application wasn’t right from the first whistle."

Danny Hylton, Patrick Hoban and Danny Rose all started, while defenders Sam Long and Chey Dunkley were among those to play 90 minutes.

United: Buchel, Long, Cundy (Hawtin), Dunkley, Evans (Grant), Ashby, Rose (Humphreys), Ruffels, Triallist (Giles), Hylton (George), Hoban (Roberts).