Oxford United boss Ian Atkins praised his players for a wonderful attacking display, but lamented a lack of 'know-how' as they went down 4-2 at third division leaders Plymouth on Saturday.

In a brilliant game of football - the best United have been involved in for many years - they hauled themselves back from 2-0 to 2-2, only to fall to goals either side of the break from Argyle striker Ian Stonebridge.

Much of the attacking play, from both sides, in difficult conditions, would not have been out of place in the Premiership, and several of the goals were of outstanding quality.

But United did not defend as well as Plymouth, who moved seven points clear of Luton at the top of the table.

"The attacking display today was probably better than when we beat Halifax 6-1, and was as good as anything we've produced since I took over," Atkins said after the match.

"It was a magnificent game of football, and anyone who wanted to see football at its best - that was it.

"But when you're a manager or coach on the end of it, it isn't nice. We were as good as them going forward, created great chances, but the difference between the two teams was that they had two centre halves who could defend today, we didn't. That's why we lost 4-2.

"In the first 20 minutes, it was very difficult to get out of our half, we were playing into a gale force nine and Plymouth showed more determination than we did.

"But the thing that caused us problems more than anything were these stupid square balls that we keep playing which keep getting cut out.

"It was a feature of the Torquay game as well, and then what happens is people lose a bit of confidence. Those kinds of balls annoy me, they annoy supporters and I want us to go forward and be positive, not go square.

"I thought we had a terrific start, and straight from the kick-off we nearly scored with a move.

"Then it just knocked us back for ten minutes and in that little spell, with the wind behind them, they were getting the ball forward very quickly and they caused us problems.

"Two of the free-kicks that led to goals were never free-kicks in the first place, but when the ball did come in, we didn't adjust again."

United's players were often guilty of not playing the percentage game . . . essentially not doing what is necessary to get themselves into a winning position.

That manifested itself not just with risky square passes which were often intercepted, but with players diving in needlessly to give away dangerous free-kicks, as skipper Andy Crosby did for Argyle's critical third goal.

Atkins said: "You can't afford to keep doing that, especially against the good sides - and Plymouth are a good side.

"But we were more than a match for them, and by the end, Andy Woodman had not had more saves to make than their keeper. Yet I thought Plymouth defended down the middle better than we did."

United's director of football added: "We caused our own problems, especially after showing such a terrific amount of spirit to get back into the game from 2-0 down."

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