JAKE Wright said the disagreement over who should take Oxford United’s penalty was quickly sorted out at half-time in their 1-1 draw with Stevenage.

Liam Sercombe, the designated penalty-taker, and top scorer Kemar Roofe both wanted to step up when Danny Hylton was fouled in first-half stoppage time.

It was a rare moment of dissent between teammates, not helped by the fact Sercombe’s effort was saved.

Converting spot-kicks has been a big problem this season and head coach Michael Appleton hinted they would consider changing the side’s taker in future.

But the situation was dealt with at the break and Wright pointed to the pair celebrating together after combining for United’s goal as evidence there were no lingering issues.

He said: “I understand Roofey’s frustration, he wants to score goals and take penalties.

“He might have been disappointed at half-time, but he set up Sercs for the goal and you saw them celebrating the goal, so it didn’t last long.

“We are passionate lads and everyone wants to do well.

“I don’t mind that, I want my forward players wanting to take the penalty.

“We got in at half-time and it all got sorted.”

Hylton, another U’s player to fail from the spot this season, did not see it as a problem.

He said: “We have confident players in the team.

“Roofey and Sercs wanted it, they weren’t arguing, they were just talking. It wasn’t anything major.”

“Sercs took it and unfortunately he missed, these things happen.

“He almost got the winner for us.”

United had to play with a man down for all but 17 minutes after John Lundstram’s dismissal.

And Wright paid tribute to the role played by the bumper Good Friday crowd for keeping the hosts going.

He said: “They were brilliant, it was one of the best (atmospheres) I’ve heard all season.

“Especially in the situation, even before the goal I think they could see the effort the lads were putting in.”