Oxford manager Darren Patterson thought his team deserved a draw from Tuesday night's match but backed Cambridge United to do well in the season's run in.

Speaking after Lee Boylan's two goals clinched a 2-1 win for Cambridge United, the former international team-mate of Jimmy Quinn admitted, "I'm very disappointed we didn't get at least a draw.

"The defensive performance was uncharacteristic of late; I think both goals were preventable and therefore disappointing but our reaction to the first goal was superb - we scored an excellent goal ourselves and in the second half after Cambridge's second we created chances to get back in it.

"I put four up front towards the end to get at them but we didn't pass it well enough and went a little bit too direct instead of getting it wider, where I thought we could get in behind them.

"Fair credit to Cambridge," he added. "They defended well and got lucky quite a few times but that happens when you are top of the league. We won't be downhearted by this defeat - I think from the performance we showed we can use this defeat as a springboard to spur us on."

On the game overall, and on Cambridge United's chances of promotion, the Oxford boss commented, "It was as good a tempo as I've seen here all season, and obviously we've played Aldershot here so fair play to Cambridge and us for giving the supporters that kind of game.

"Cambridge had two shots on target and took them very well and despite all our chances we couldn't just get that break, but Jimmy has the team focused on their jobs and to be fair the defence did a superb job when we had them under pressure from the run of corners.

"But that's why Cambridge are sitting second and we are mid-table, which isn't good enough for us. As a club we're moving in the right way, despite the uncharacteristic defending, but credit for Cambridge for exploiting that.

"They're a decent side and if it comes to the play-offs as we did last season, I think they have a very good chance. Jimmy has spent well and they have a lot of players who know this level. We played a similar system last year with three at the back and we nicked games by the odd goal.

"That might be a problem - not scoring enough goals - but I have to say Cambridge look a strong side, very resilient in the way that Morecambe were last year, and we know where they ended up."

Interview by David Gray

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