CHEY Dunkley felt experience was the difference between Oxford United and Sheffield United as the Sky Bet League One leaders came from behind to win 3-2 at the Kassam Stadium last night.

The U’s led at half-time thanks to Dunkley’s header, but the advantage slipped as the Blades hit back impressively after the break.

Billy Sharp showed his predatory instincts to equalise from a corner, before Kieron Freeman put the visitors ahead with a fluked cross which nestled just inside the far post.

Sharp quickly added a penalty and although Toni Martinez pulled a goal back late on, United fell to their second home defeat in four days.

Dunkley said: “We’ve got a young squad and have played a lot of games as well.

“It’s a lot of learning this group of players is doing. I think experience is the difference between the two sides.

“Maybe they know how to react to disappointment because they kept themselves in the game after going 1-0 down.

“That’s what we’re striving to do – challenge at the top of the league – but it takes time.

“As the team grows hopefully we’ll get closer to a side like Sheffield United.”

Dunkley also caused the visitors problems late in the game, when he was felled in the box.

United appealed strongly for a spot-kick, but their protests were waved away by referee Paul Tierney.

The centre back said: “I thought it was a penalty, but we’re not going to make excuses.”

U’s boss Michael Appleton was much happier with the general performance level, which was a significant improvement on Saturday’s limp 2-0 defeat to Bristol Rovers.

But the common theme with the weekend’s game was a frustration about the goals his side conceded.

Appleton said: “The goals were very sloppy.

“The first one we’ve got to do our jobs properly, the second one was actually a cross, so they got a bit fortunate there, and the third one was just a mess.

“It was just a kick in the teeth we conceded the third goal, because as any home side if you’re only a goal down going into the last few minutes you’ll always have an opportunity.”

Ex-United captain Jake Wright received a warm welcome on his first return since leaving the club, but ended the night in hospital after sustaining a deep cut across his nose which required stitches.