KARL Robinson did not expect another swashbuckling Oxford United display against Cheltenham Town.

The U’s were immensely impressive in their 3-0 win over AFC Wimbledon on Wednesday, but could not hit the same heights as they drew 1-1 with the Robins.

Read the match report here

United found it much harder to break Cheltenham down and a sloppy first half was summed up by visiting keeper Owen Evans saving Matty Taylor’s penalty.

Callum Wright put the Robins ahead within three minutes of the restart after Mark Sykes miscued a clearance from a corner.

While not at their best, the U’s kept pushing for an equaliser and Sykes eventually secured a point with his eighth goal of the season eight minutes from time.

United head coach Robinson said: “People will expect what they saw the other night, I think we all knew that wasn’t going to be the case.

“They came here with a really deep line with very little space whatsoever and people think you can do the same thing all the time, but it’s not to be.

“We kept a winger on the bench so we knew if we needed that little impetus of energy we had that.

“The goal was a small error from us, our set-up was right.

“I’m frustrated with the result but I’m pleased with the performance.”

Cheltenham goalkeeper Owen Evans brought Taylor down in the 28th minute to give the striker the chance to take the lead, although it looked like the stopper made contact with the ball.

United’s top-scorer chose to drive the spot-kick down the middle, but the stopper made himself big to block the shot.

“We said to the fourth official we didn’t think the penalty was a penalty," Robinson added.

“I don’t point fingers at my players, you take the plaudits when they go in so you take the criticism when they don’t.

“Matty’s big enough and old enough and I’m sure if there’s another one tomorrow he’d take it again.

“The keeper does very well to stand up to it, you generally don’t see keepers do that.”

There were a few controversial decisions during the game and the fourth official even walked on to the pitch to intervene after an incident following Sykes’s equaliser.

The situation calmed down quickly, but Robinson felt it was taken out of proportion.

He said: “Someone said Cameron Brannagan threw a punch – you mean the guy who grabbed Cameron by the neck and threw him on the floor.

“That was more the scenario.

“I don’t know what people thought they’d seen, but I saw it and there was nothing in it.

“We knew there was nothing in it, so to get involved in the way he did was frustrating.”