KARL Robinson felt Oxford United needed to take a colder approach in the latter stages of their defeat at Cheltenham Town.

The U’s went 1-0 down to Alfie May’s 68th-minute strike and the hosts predictably dropped deeper.

United were attacking towards their 1,452-strong away following but, other than a James Henry chance straight from kick-off, did not worry home goalkeeper Scott Flinders for the rest of the game.

See also: How we rated each Oxford United player at Cheltenham

Robinson said: “We caught them in every one of their presses, the difference is the deeper that they become the harder it is to play.

“All of a sudden fans are asking you to play forwards quicker and you get wrapped up in the emotion of that.

“I would like my players to disconnect from the emotion when they’re chasing the game, because you allow your talent to flourish as much as the first 45 minutes.

“It’s an emotional trait that they have to be better at.”

At times this season the U’s have been guilty of missing clear chances, but most of their five shots on target at Cheltenham came from long range.

They had plenty of territory before the break and won the ball in their opponents’ half several times.

Robinson knows United must be more clinical even before they get into shooting positions and threw down the gauntlet ahead of Saturday’s visit of Gillingham.

“It’s not so much taking chances, it’s a ruthless edge in the turnover of possession.

“We’ve turned over the ball three or four times and we’re in, but we take a second touch and all of a sudden those gaps close.

“I think you’ve got to find that edge over the course of the week in training.

“The players who train best this week will play on Saturday.”