KARL Robinson praised Oxford United’s response to Marcus McGuane’s early injury in the 2-0 win over Bristol Rovers.

The midfielder went down clutching his thigh after 15 minutes and will have a scan to determine the extent of the problem.

However, the untimely disruption failed to knock the U’s off course and enabled Cameron Brannagan to get 75 minutes under his belt as he continued his return to full fitness.

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Head coach Robinson said: “Cameron playing a little higher up as a 10 was very alien for him.

“It’s actually where he played for Liverpool (as a trainee), so it’s a long time since he’s played in that position.”

United wingers James Henry and Mide Shodipo swapped sides in the first half, with Rovers left wing-back Luke Leahy booked for a foul on the latter.

That saw Robinson tinker with his tactics, while he quickly switched from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1 formation to address the visitors’ unusual shape of 3-5-1-1.

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“We just felt if somebody’s booked, one person you don’t want in a one-v-one duel is Mide Shodipo,” said the U’s manager.

“They played a very peculiar system with a back five, a diamond and then one (up front).

“It’s hard to cope with, because when you want to be aggressive against their back three and wing-backs, you then get flooded in the middle of the pitch.

“We had to make sure the pivot of their diamond didn’t control the game.”

Robinson continued: “I wouldn’t say we were scintillating.

“I wouldn’t say we blew Bristol Rovers away, but they’ve got a good manager, they’ve got good players in their squad and they will strengthen before this (transfer) window comes to an end.

“We didn’t feel the pain of the fans in the Swindon game because they weren’t here, but this is like a local derby for us, which meant a lot in the build-up.

“The players’ appetite looked sensational.”