KARL Robinson felt a killer instinct was the main thing missing from Oxford United’s opening-day display at Cambridge United.

The U’s controlled possession for large parts of the Sky Bet League One clash, but could not find a second goal after Steve Seddon scored on debut before the break.

Match report: Cambridge United 1 (Ironside 78p), Oxford United 1 (Seddon 42)

It proved costly, as Joe Ironside equalised from the penalty spot following Mark Sykes’s foul on Paul Digby with 12 minutes to go.

But United at least held on for a point against a side celebrating their first game at this level since 2002, despite Cambridge winger James Brophy threatening twice late on.

Robinson took the positives from an opening-day draw that saw full crowds return after a 17-month wait, but rued his team’s inability to finish their chances.

The U’s head coach said: “They celebrated that result like it was a final and it shows we’re a scalp at this level.

“I felt for 60 minutes we were brilliant.

“Our finishing wasn’t at it and that’s the last thing that tends to come back.

“We got into four or five outstanding positions and we didn’t exploit that.

“We left ourselves open by switching off from a throw-in and I never felt the pressure until the last minute, when the lad cut in.

“I thought we were dominant against a good team that’s here with a full house in the first game of the season.

“You know they’re going to have a little bit more momentum.

“It’s good to see the fans back, as well as we played I’m sorry we couldn’t give them the three points to go home with.”

Gavin Whyte and Billy Bodin spurned chances shortly before Sykes tripped Digby just inside the box.

Robinson had no complaints about Cambridge’s penalty, but felt United should have been awarded a spot-kick when Bodin was pushed over in stoppage-time.

He said: “How is it a penalty if that (Bodin) is not a penalty?

“It’s a blatant penalty on Bodes, his hands have gone up and he’s pushed him.

“He gave two free-kicks in the second half in the middle third of the pitch.

“Just because it’s in the penalty box it’s no different. He has bottled that decision.

“The big thing here is we were very good for large parts of that game.

“You can’t blame the referee for not winning today, we didn’t score when we were the better team to take this game out of sight.”

United had plenty of joy down the right in the opening hour, with the goal coming from a Ryan Williams cross to Seddon.

The winger was replaced by Bodin just 12 minutes into the second half and Robinson revealed it was with an eye on the Australian’s earlier booking.

The U’s boss said: “The fourth official said if Ryan Williams makes one more consistent foul the referee’s got a decision to make.

“You’re better taking that decision out of the referee’s hands.”