OXFORD United’s players and staff did not have to look too hard to find reasons for optimism as they bowed out of the EFL Cup with a 4-2 defeat at home to Brighton & Hove Albion last night.

While the scoreline was similar to the 4-0 friendly defeat between the sides at the Kassam Stadium a month earlier, this was a very different game.

United, having fallen behind to a second-minute rocket from Sam Adekugbe, levelled through Wes Thomas before the half-hour mark.

The second-round tie remained that way with 15 minutes to go, but Brighton’s extra quality in attacking areas finally told.

The Sky Bet Championship side struck three times in nine minutes to break the U’s, who grabbed a stoppage-time consolation through Dan Crowley.

But man-of-the-match Joe Rothwell, one of several strong performers, felt the underdogs should be upbeat.

He said: “Even at 2-1 down the reaction was different class, but they counter-attacked again and before you know it you’re 3-1 down.

“Apart from the result, you can only take positives out of what we’ve done.”

United went into the game with confidence after their first win of the Sky Bet League One season against Peterborough United last weekend.

And head coach Michael Appleton saw no reason why it should have diminished ahead of Saturday’s trip to Sheffield United after pushing their high-flying rivals for 70 minutes.

He said: “I think there will be a couple of players who will sleep well because of the shift they’ve had to put in.

“Brighton have pace and quality in a couple of areas and that’s why they are playing at that level.

“There were some very good performances and we should be going to Bramall Lane on Saturday full of confidence on the back of that.

“We got done by a bit of quality from top players on the night, but that’s how it pans out sometimes.”

His opposite number, Chris Hughton, swapped the entire XI, but the Seagulls boss did not take the decision lightly and praised United.

He said: “I had to think long and hard about whether to make so many changes, because Oxford are a good side.

“This is the only way they (Brighton’s young players) are going to get experience.

“To bounce back from 1-1 when the momentum might have gone Oxford’s way was really good.”