‘FIVE minutes of madness' early in the second half cost Oxford United in their 3-2 defeat at Doncaster Rovers, according to Karl Robinson.

The U’s went in 1-1 at the break, but the hosts struck twice within six minutes of the restart through Fejiri Okenabirhie and Taylor Richards.

Mide Shodipo pulled a goal back, but despite seven minutes of stoppage time United could not force an equaliser as their nine-game winning run - and 13-match unbeaten streak - came to an end.

Read the match report here 

Robinson was pleased with his side’s display against a side third in Sky Bet League One, but admitted the slow start to the second period proved crucial.

The U’s head coach said: “If you looked at our last few performances, you could pick more holes than there were today against one of the best teams in the league.

“It was five minutes of madness at the beginning of the second half.

“It’s frustrating, I wouldn’t say they were breakaway goals. I thought we had enough bodies back.”

United controlled large parts of the first half, but went behind after 31 minutes when Jon Taylor exploited a gap in behind their defence.

Sam Long equalised shortly before the break, but the U’s were undone by the two quickfire goals.

Robinson felt United should have been awarded a free-kick for a challenge on James Henry in the build-up to Doncaster’s second, while referee James Bell also waved away a strong penalty shout when Shodipo was blocked off with 13 minutes left.

He said: “It’s incredible that’s not given.

“He (the referee) asked me if he missed it - I said the fact you’ve asked me shows you know you have.

“But we know why we’ve lost - it’s because we’ve switched off for the first five minutes of the second half.

“Arguably we’ve played 92 minutes really well, but for five minutes we were a little bit off it.”