DANNY Hylton came up with the perfect response to losing his penalty-taker role by netting from open play as Oxford United began the season with a 1-1 draw against Crawley Town.

The U’s had to come from behind after conceding to Gwion Edwards’s scrappy opener 11 minutes into the second half.

Hylton ensured the lead did not last long, running on to Danny Rose’s through ball and finishing smartly to open his account.

Last season’s top scorer bagged 16, including half a dozen penalties, but after scoring just one of his last four from the spot, the role has passed on to Alex MacDonald.

Hylton was informed of the decision on Friday, but shrugged it off and insisted it would only sharpen his focus to score from open play.

He said: “The gaffer has made the decision, he’s the big dog.

“That’s the way it is and I can’t do anything about it.

“I’m just going to have to try and score some more goals from open play and keep going.”

“I’ll keep trying to win some penalties if I can and Macca is on them at the minute, hopefully he can stick them away.”

He added: “When players like Danny Rose get the ball you just have to make a run and more often than not he’ll find you.

“It’s great to score on the opening day of the season, I want to carry on and beat last season’s tally.”

U’s boss Michael Appleton was pleased with the way Hylton dealt with the disappointment of being taken off penalties and urged the 26-year-old to play with a smile on his face.

He said: “Sometimes he gets wrapped up getting involved with the opposition defenders and wanting to have a fight with them.

“I said to him you’ll probably have more energy in a game if you just enjoyed it, than you would if you spend energy arguing with the referee or the oppositon.

“He’s responded really well and got his goal.”

“When you think he’s had enough and might need to bring him off he goes again and again.

“He can be annoying for the opposition and I hope he continues to do that.”

Although United were unable to push on after the equaliser and find a winner, Hylton was not too downbeat about a point from the opening game.

He said: “It took five games for us to do that last season.

“Who knows, Crawley might be one of the better teams in this league and they were in League One last season.

“You can’t be too disappointed. We will get sharper and better.”