LIAM Sercombe was frustrated Oxford United could not turn their second half display at Northampton Town into three points.

The visitors at Sixfields were grateful to Simon Eastwood for keeping out Matt Taylor’s penalty six minutes after half-time.

From then on, the U’s had ample opportunities around the Cobblers’ box, but failed to test goalkeeper Adam Smith until the final ten minutes, when he produced excellent saves to thwart Joe Rothwell and Kane Hemmings.

Sercombe was among those who had a good sight of goal.

He said: “I probably could’ve scored with my left foot when Josh Ruffels pulled it back.

“I should’ve done a bit better there, but it was one of those days where you just need to move on.”

He added: “It was a tough game, we knew it would be coming here.

“I thought in the second half we performed pretty well and created a lot of chances.

“We were just saying in the changing room we need to be a bit more ruthless in front of goal.

“It’s a point, but we are disappointed because we know we should’ve had three.”

The result was actually United’s best in their six matches against the sides with whom they were promoted from Sky Bet League Two last season.

After AFC Wimbledon and Bristol Rovers did the double over Michael Appleton’s side, who had also lost to the Cobblers on Boxing Day, Sercombe acknowledged it had been mentioned in the build-up.

He said: “We did speak about that not long ago.

“We don’t want to keep dropping points against those teams, because we were the better team out of the ones that did come up.

“I’m confident we will finish higher than them this season.”