Oxford United's management admit Saturday's home defeat by Tranmere has plunged them right back into trouble.

The 2-1 defeat by the first division's bottom club - the worst result at home since Malcolm Shotton took over as manager - leaves United in 21st place, with the clubs below them all having games in hand.

Fans who had been ordered before the match to clean up their act and cut out anything obscene, ended it by chanting "what a load of rubbish" after a dismal second-half display.

"It's very tight at the bottom and we've brought the pressure right back on us again," conceded assistant boss Mark Harrison.

Shotton had intended to speak at the post-match press conference but sent Harrison instead again.

"He's very unhappy," Harrison said. "He's locked himself in his room and he's growling."

Tranmere's manager, the former Oxford United hero John Aldridge, had a smile a broad as the River Mersey after what was Rovers' first league win of the season.

Oxford looked like running away with it after Dean Windass struck his sixth goal of the campaign after eight minutes. They created other good chances but conceded two poor goals and showed no fight at all in the second 45 minutes.

"Tranmere set their stall out, they were going to come and battle us - they're a big strong, powerful side - and they did just that," said Harrison. "Unfortunately, we weren't up for the battle, they ground us down and we lay down again. "We blow hot and cold so much it's getting to the stage now where you wonder what you're going to get," Harrison added.

"One week we get a great win, the next we get a bad result and we have to come in on Monday and pick the lads up.

"They are like a yo-yo. But we have to try to lift them again for a massive game at Bolton.

"This performance and result has made our next two games, away to Bolton and Bury, big games for us now. We've got to go to Bolton - and they're unbeaten - and we've got to try and get a win."

Harrison blasted United's players for not taking responsibility, and Tranmere equalised with defender Graham Allen putting away a completey free header at a corner.

"We went through all the set-pieces before the game and I said they had to take responsibility individually because Tranmere had so many big men, and we didn't do it," groaned Shotton's assistant.

Home fans made clear their displeasure at the way United sank to a long ball game in the second half, and even booed when Shotton substituted Paul Powell.

But Harrison defended his manager, saying: "Paul was starting to tire. We could see he was shattered and we needed fresh legs.

"We didn't ask the players to play it long. That was because the players weren't taking responsibility on the pitch.

"We panicked on the ball, players were hiding and not showing for the ball and when it came down to a pitch battle we were second best. We ran out of ideas."

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