OXFORD United’s unsettled back four is not an excuse for their slow start to the season, according to Chey Dunkley.

Injuries and a sending off have meant the U’s have not had the same back four play successive 90 minutes so far this season.

The disruption continued on Saturday, when a thigh injury saw Joe Skarz forced off at half-time.

United led Sheffield United 1-0 at that stage, but ended up losing 2-1 to suffer a third straight away defeat in Sky Bet League One.

Dunkley has had three different partners at centre half in his five appearances this season, but dismissed suggestions it was hampering the side.

He said: “At this club we don’t look for any excuses.

“We believe the players here are good enough to deal with whatever gets thrown at us.

“We’re not going to say ‘there’s no continuity’.

“We know that, but we’ve started the game well and we have let ourselves down in the second half because we could have been more on the front foot and put them under pressure.”

United wanted to earn promotion last season to play on bigger stages – and more than 19,000 flocked to Bramall Lane.

It was a great occasion, but Dunkley wants to do more than just survive in League One.

He said: “If you can’t play in front of thousands you are in the wrong business, you thrive off games like this.

“We’re not going to sweep it under the carpet, we are disappointed.

“We have come into this league and want to be up there – we don’t want to be competing just to stay in the league.”