KARL Robinson had no complaints about Oxford United’s performance as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers.

Reece James’s precise strike in the first half was the only goal of a game where the visitors enjoyed plenty of possession in attacking areas.

But on an afternoon where Matty Taylor hit the post and had another effort cleared off the line, a resolute Rovers held on for maximum points.

Match report: Doncaster Rov 1, Oxford United 0

Defeat – just the second in 16 Sky Bet League One games – saw the U’s slip two places to fourth.

But Robinson was upbeat about the display.

“It could have been oh so different,” he said.

“We probably dominated this game more than when we beat them 3-0 at home. That’s football, it’s fine margins.”

He added: “You could see the substitutions they made, everything we did was offensive and on the front foot.

“We probably dominated possession, we would have dominated shots and set pieces in the final third.

“We’ve hit the post, had two cleared off the line. If our finishing was better it could have been a completely different game, but it wasn’t to be.

Pictures: Gallery from Oxford United's trip to Doncaster 

“Credit the opposition, they’ve won fair and square. It’s irrelevant in some ways, but the big thing we have control of we controlled.”

Skipper John Mousinho felt the whole outfield side had to take responsibility for failing to find the net.

He said: “That falls on everyone’s shoulders.

“We haven’t scored a set piece in quite a while and we’ve looked like scoring a couple but haven’t quite done it.

“That can relieve the burden from the centre forwards.

He added: “I’ve never come to Doncaster and had that much comfortable possession in the second half.

“We controlled the game without creating a huge amount. It’s something we’ll have to work on and improve going forward.”

The result ended United’s three-game winning run over the festive period, but overall Robinson was very satisfied with the return.

He said: “We’ve taken nine points from 12 and if you do that consistently you will get promoted.

“You’re going to lose games and if you do then lose like we did against Blackpool (in August) and here, when we were on the front foot and were by far the better team.”