Oxford United captain Peter Fear issued a public apology on behalf of his team following what he called a 'completely rubbish performance' against Port Vale on Saturday, writes Mark Edwards.

Despite a bright opening 15 minutes, United lost their way and slumped to a 3-0 defeat, their second of the season which sees them rock bottom of the second division.

And it would have been worse on Saturday but for the brilliance of goalkeeper Richard Knight, who made a string of fine saves.

Fear says that United can't ever afford to play like that again this season, describing their performance as 'unacceptable'.

"It's hard to talk about it after playing like that," he said.

"It's not about getting the breaks, we have to make them ourselves and that was just completely rubbish today.

"We had a good load of fans supporting us and we've let them down. "We started brightly and they must have been thinking 'this is ok', but then to go home having lost 3-0, they'd have wondered why they came."

The thing that upset Fear most was the way United heads dropped after the second and third Vale goals.

"Heads went down when they scored again, and that is not acceptable. We shouldn't have done that and can't ever let that happen again. We have to put it right."

Boss Denis Smith said: "Port Vale had eight men performing and three men not. We had the opposite.

"It's no good saying the first 15 minutes were good because a game lasts for 90 and that wasn't good enough today.

"I can go to bed at night saying I have given 100 per cent today and I asked the players afterwards if they could do that too.

"The players have let themselves down. Knight, Richardson and Manny did well, but the others have to look at themselves." However, Smith went on to say that had United converted one of their early chances, things could have been so different.

"Port Vale looked very nervous and if we'd have taken an early lead, things would have been different.

"We worked hard early on but needed the goal. Once they went into the lead, that was it. It's going to be a long season if we play like that."

The manner of the goals United conceded also angered their boss.

"If you give people that amount of room, that's what they'll do. I've got players who will do that if they're given the space.

"It's up to people to get in there. We've got to get blocks in with men charging out, getting hit in the stomach and in the face. That's what they're paid to do."

Smith went on to explain the decision to play Steve Anthrobus at centre half, despite having Lee Jarman on the bench.

"Steve wants to play there and has been doing so in training," he said. "As McGuckin was injured, we needed a left-sided centre half and Lee's a right-sided one. At least it gave me a chance to have a look at what Steve can do in a match situation and he did OK."