Oxford United boss Karl Robinson assesses display against Coventry City

Sky Blues debutant Jonathan Panzo headed home either side of half-time to condemn the U’s to their first defeat of the summer.

Coventry finished 12th in the Sky Bet Championship last term and represented a considerable step up in quality after United started pre-season with five wins over non-league sides.

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And Robinson is confident the U’s will get better as they build up to the start of the Sky Bet League One season in a fortnight’s time.

United’s head coach said: “I don’t think we got blown away, I thought it was a very even game.

“It was just two set-plays, which we start working on on Monday.

“We have stages of our pre-season and we’re still a little bit short, as you’d well imagine.

“I thought the players way underperformed, I’m not going to name names right now.

“That’s where I know that we need to be better.

“The Jamos (James Henry) and the Bodes (Billy Bodin) of this world, you know they’re a massive goal threat and the older you are the longer it takes to get going in pre-season.

“I’m sure when it starts for real in a few weeks’ time you’ll see a massive uplift. That won’t just be us.

“We know there’s still a level we need to get to.”

READ MORE: Karl Robinson hoping for three signings in coming days

Before the game, Robinson revealed he was hoping to complete three new signings ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against West Bromwich Albion.

He added: “We’ve just got to get these deals over the line, that’s my only concern right now.

“I’ll worry more about set-plays when I have the players to worry about the set-plays.”

United suffered another setback when captain Elliott Moore was forced off with an injury midway through the first half.

The U’s are light at centre back and Robinson has his fingers crossed that the issue is not serious.

He said: “It’s an impingement in his hip, we hope it’ll settle down and won’t be as bad as what we first thought.”