DEFEAT at Oldham Athletic was a “reality check” for Oxford United’s play-off hopes according to Michael Appleton.

The U’s head coach also feared the Checkatrade Trophy final at Wembley next month was on the minds of players in the 2-1 loss on Boundary Park’s cabbage patch.

It was yet another missed opportunity to close the gap to the Sky Bet League One top-six, which is still half a dozen points away, but with United having now played a game more than Millwall.

Appleton was critical of the way United were outmuscled defensively by a side who ultimately deserved the three points in their fight against relegation.

He said: “You put trust in players and the majority have played for a good amount of the season and been very good.

“I’m sure people will be disappointed they’ve not played particularly well.

“One or two did look a bit jaded on a pitch that was difficult to play on at times.”

He added: “It’s probably a bit of a reality check for everybody.

“We want to finish the season as well as we can, but ultimately I got the impression – and I hope I’m wrong – that it looked like a side who had one big game left this season.

“If that’s the case, we need to get that out of our minds pretty quickly.”

Chris Maguire equalised from the penalty spot on the hour, but Lee Erwin converted his second header of the night within ten minutes to bag the winner.

The Scot, now United’s joint top-scorer with 14 goals, echoed Appleton’s comments.

He said: “We weren’t at it, simple as that. We didn’t show enough fight and hunger.

“The first half we maybe got away with it to come in 1-0 down.

“We came out with a bit more fight and got back in the game, but again we shot ourselves in the foot with a sloppy goal.

“We can’t use the pitch as an excuse. If we’re a team that want to push into the play-offs then the bottom line is it wasn’t good enough.”

United’s one major complaint was a handball in the Oldham box which was not given late on.

Maguire said: “I spoke to the linesman at the end. He said it was a handball but he’s not deliberately meant it.

“I don’t understand how you can put your arm away from your body and not give away a penalty.”