SIMON Eastwood and Rob Atkinson came in for special praise from Oxford United boss Karl Robinson for their displays against AFC Wimbledon.

For Eastwood it was a superb afternoon, as the goalkeeper saved a late penalty to keep the scores level.

He also made two stops in the shoot-out as the U’s progressed to the second round 4-3 on spot kicks.

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But it was the United No 1’s appetite to change his game by acting as a ‘sweeper-keeper’ which really impressed Robinson.

The U’s boss said: “I think you’ve already seen a difference in his game.

“He won first contact three times – that’s tremendous bravery, when you get to someone with the amount of games he’s played still wanting to be a better goalkeeper. We’re so lucky to have him.”

Atkinson excelled in what was his senior debut in a Football League competition.

And for Robinson it just continued the centre back’s form from an impressive pre-season.

He said: “The striker at QPR (Lyndon Dykes) is a full Scottish international who played on Friday night.

“Ivan Toney (at Brentford) was the best striker in League One last season and (Joe) Pigott is one of the aggressive strikers in the air.

“So in his last three games he’s come up against every type of challenge and I don’t think he’s lost a battle yet.

“From my point of view that’s very good.”