"That's not acceptable": Karl Robinson furious after Oxford United collapse

KARL Robinson slammed Oxford United’s ‘arrogance’ as they collapsed to a shock Emirates FA Cup defeat at Bristol Rovers.

The U’s led 3-1 with 11 minutes left of extra time at the Memorial Stadium, but conceded three late goals to lose 4-3.

Billy Bodin and Steve Seddon struck early in the additional period to put United in control and they had opportunities to move out of sight before Rovers' big finish in the first round replay.

And Robinson was furious at a familiar failing, after his side missed several chances in the initial 2-2 draw at the Kassam Stadium on November 7.

The U’s head coach said: “We can’t waste chances. At 3-1 we missed two or three and were sloppy and arrogant.

“Certain stages of that game happened at home, people think the game’s over and they get sloppy.

“In football, no matter who you play, you stick to the game plan, you stick to your discipline.

“I’ve said it to the players, certain people let us down over these two games. That’s not acceptable at all.

“It’s not just the players that came in, because that back four that conceded those goals are our back four.”

Robinson made seven changes and tried a 3-2-4-1 formation, before reverting to four in defence late on.

The game burst into life three minutes into the second half when Sam Finley opened the scoring for Rovers, only for substitute Matty Taylor to level from the penalty spot with virtually his first touch against his former club.

United were on course for a second round tie with Sutton United, but Sion Spence twice capitalised on poor defending either side of Aaron Collins’ wonder goal.

The winner was particularly painful, as Simon Eastwood and Sam Long were unable to clear a deep cross and Spence knocked the ball into an empty net.

Robinson said: “Their first and their third are fantastic goals.

“For the second, we let the cross in and we were too open with two centre backs.

“The fourth bounces past one, bounces past another, we let the cross in and we’re sloppy at the back post.

“There are certain aspects of our game that I won’t accept, and I know what they are.

“You can imagine I wouldn’t want to say what I truly want to say because we still have games to play up until Christmas.”

The late goals sparked wild scenes among the home support, who gave former hero Taylor a typically hostile reception – and Robinson revealed he warned his striker to watch out.

He said: “With three minutes to go I told Matty not to get involved in the game and stay by the tunnel.

“To be fair to the stewards, they’ve done a wonderful job because there was always that prospect of people coming onto the pitch.

“I think the referee said to Matty, if that happens we’ll protect you coming off.”