KARL Robinson refused to be too downbeat after Oxford United let slip a lead to lose 3-2 at Portsmouth.

Marcus Browne put the U’s ahead in the third minute on his first start for 14 months, but quickfire goals from Sean Raggett and George Hirst turned the tide before the break.

Hayden Carter’s wonder strike early in the second half increased the lead and it proved enough for Pompey, despite Luke McNally’s late consolation.

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United remain fourth in Sky Bet League One with ten games of the season left and Robinson was fully behind his side.

The U’s head coach said: “My players have been immense, I’m proud of what they’ve done.

“We never like losing, it hurts, but we’re 11 points ahead of Portsmouth and they’re singing about going up, while we’re down and depressed.

“I can’t get too down on the players when they’ve been brilliant for me.

“I’m not going to criticise them one bit, I’m going to back them.”

United were relatively comfortable at 1-0 up, only for Raggett to head home in the 42nd minute and Hirst to put Pompey in charge in first-half stoppage-time.

The U’s have conceded twice or more in nine of their last 12 matches – and that was before centre back Carter’s long-range screamer.

Robinson admitted he was not happy with the timing of the goals, adding: “The big thing for me was conceding that goal just after they scored.

“Those five minutes were big and that’s the bit we’re frustrated with.

“The first goal was a great header, the third goal was a strike from 30 yards.

“I’ve very rarely seen that.”

One positive of the evening was Browne’s instant impact, the January signing taking Nathan Holland’s pass to fire United into an early lead at Fratton Park.

The 24-year-old went down just after the hour mark and Robinson revealed it was a hamstring problem, having already lost Mark Sykes (chest) and James Henry (groin) before the game began.

“It is a worry, slightly, but he was coming off anyway,” Robinson said.

“Browney’s a wonderful talent.

“We know we’ve got to be patient with him, it’s about nursing him through those moments.”