A FUMING Karl Robinson ordered Oxford United’s players to refund the travelling fans after they were hammered 5-2 by Bury in last night’s Checkatrade Trophy quarter-final.

The squad were sent out to do extra running on the Gigg Lane pitch following a dressing down by the head coach.

Their Sky Bet League Two hosts were worthy winners and responded quickly to score after James Henry’s first-half penalty made it 1-1 and substitute Samir Carruthers brought it back to 3-2 just after the break.

On a night where the 101 travelling fans had to battle snow on a 350-mile round-trip, Robinson felt the least the players could do was provide refunds.

“It was a shambles,” he said.

“The players will pay for the tickets.

“They come and support us and my team always gives the fans everything they possibly can. That was diabolical. They know in no uncertain terms that is not acceptable.

“I don’t care who the manager is, I treat my players like men, but tonight probably 90 per cent of them have treated the club with a lack of respect, in my view.

“When you perform like that there’s got to be a consequence for their actions, whether that’s running or a financial burden. It’s got to hurt them in some way.

Match report: Bury 5, Oxford United 2

“We were excellent to start with, then certain players wanted to do their own thing and not play for the team.”

Skipper John Mousinho was an unused substitute, but was sent out after the game to represent the U’s players.

And there were no complaints.

He said: “The fans would rather have paid for the tickets and won the game, I’m sure of that, but it’s the least the players can do.

“They’ve come up here on a Tuesday night for a Checkatrade game when it’s snowing, God knows what the roads will be like going home.

“It’s scant consolation but players get paid good enough money to perform and we haven’t performed, so fair enough. There’s no grumbles from the players.”

On a bad night for United, who slipped back into the League One relegation zone due to results elsewhere, Cameron Brannagan and Marcus Browne picked up minor hamstring strains.

With no game this weekend, Robinson will turn his focus to the transfer market, but he did rubbish links with Josh Wright.

The Bradford City midfielder was a potential target earlier this month, but Ahmed Kashi’s arrival means United dropped their interest a week ago.