PEP Clotet was upbeat about Oxford United’s display despite their winning start to the Sky Bet League One season coming to an end at Glanford Park.

Josh Morris scored the only goal of the game eight minutes from time to give Scunthorpe United their first win of the campaign.

The 20-yard curling effort was one of the trickier chances the home side created in a second half where the U’s were pinned back at times.

But the visitors defended well and had opportunities themselves, most clearly in the final seconds when Jon Obika headed against the crossbar.

While disappointed with the result, Clotet was encouraged by elements of his side’s performance, against a team who finished third in the division last season.

The United manager said: “Obviously we made mistakes and didn’t win the game, but we did a lot of things right as well.

“I think the team is in a good position and I’m very satisfied with the effort.

“We lost, but we lost as a team and we could have won the game.

“We showed we are competing against teams who had fantastic seasons (last year).”

He added: “In the end I would have taken a draw as a fair result.

“Obviously the game turned the other way and we can do nothing else than learn these things can happen.

“We lost a point and we have to get better and focus again.”

United were the better side in the first half and Jack Payne came desperately close to opening the scoring with an eighth-minute header which goalkeeper Matt Gilks pushed on to the crossbar at full stretch.

But after the break a tight contest really opened up and Clotet’s substitutions looked to exploit an attacking opportunity.

He said: “The game was broken and I thought there would be a lot of counter-attacks, so we would look to use Jon (Obika) and Gino (Van Kessel)’s pace.

“We tried to build an attack and we risked a little bit on that.

“It didn’t turn out well for us and they made a counter-attack based on one or two-touch football.

“They opened it wide and our backline had to drop, it left enough of a gap to shoot.

“It was a fantastic shot and when they go in you cannot say much. I would praise Scunthorpe, because the counter-attack was brilliant.”

Clotet also revealed Wes Thomas came off early in the second half as a precaution, feeling tightness in one of his thighs.