MICHAEL Appleton was highly critical of a “rubbish” performance from Oxford United as they went down to a 2-1 defeat at Bristol Rovers.

Matty Taylor, a summer transfer target for the U’s, bagged the winner 20 minutes from time, shortly after Sam Long was sent off for two bookable offences.

Defensive errors played a role in both Rovers goals, but Kane Hemmings’s excellent first goal for the club had drawn the sides level before the break and given hope the visitors would take at least a point from the game.

But Appleton was unusually forthright in his analysis of the game, pulling no punches.

He said: “In terms of getting a point out of the game (the red card) might have been the difference, but if you’ve got six or seven players who are well below the standard you expect you make it really difficult to win the game.

“We were rubbish and we know that.

“There will be some people in there hurting and if they’re not hurting twice as much as me then I’ll be disappointed.

“We have to be better than that and they know it.

“I thought our concentration and composure in the final third was poor.

“I’m not saying Bristol Rovers were miles better than us from that point of view, but I do believe that cost us and you’ve only got to look at the goals to realise that.”

United rode their luck to stay in the game late on, but had a golden opportunity in stoppage time.

Liam Sercombe’s ball across the six-yard box found Tyler Roberts, but he blazed over from close range.

Appleton said: “We still had a chance to take a point at the end, which we would’ve been delighted with, but we certainly wouldn’t have deserved it.”

There were few pats on the back in the home dressing room, either.

Rovers boss Darrell Clarke was pleased to get their first Sky Bet League One win on the board, but the number of chances which went begging meant he also had some choice words afterwards.

He said: “I had a go at the end of the game.

“I’m sure they think I’m crazy but we had umpteen chances to be more ruthless.”