KARL Robinson admitted Oxford United did not have an answer to going behind as they fell to another defeat on the road.
The U’s lost 1-0 at newly-promoted Cheltenham Town, with Alfie May scoring the only goal midway through the second half.
United were the better side before the break but could not make it count, as they once again lacked a cutting edge in the final third.
They have now lost their last five matches on the road and boast just one point from four Sky Bet League One away games.
For Robinson, United’s travails on their travels have had a common theme.
The U’s head coach said: “There are a few glaring factors which I spoke to the players about in there (the dressing room).
“If you looked at the Bolton game, the AFC (Wimbledon) game, this game and Cambridge, they’ve all been similar.
“We’ve been very good, not taken our chances and when we’ve been pegged back we didn’t have a second answer.
“Then we become very ordinary and the clock runs itself down.
“The worry for me is when you’ve been so good and not won the games.
“For 60 minutes again today we were, and the game petered out the longer it went on.
“I’ve said to the players we have to look at ourselves first and foremost, you can’t blame the pitch or any external factors.
“You have to take that responsibility and I do as well.”
United had the best chances before the break, with James Henry twice going close from range and Mark Sykes getting into good positions.
But they created little after falling behind and there was a smattering of boos from the away end at full-time.
Sykes was the first to approach the fans and the midfielder felt it was important to talk.
He said: “I went over to give them a face to speak to, rather than going down the tunnel.
“I asked them to keep backing us and hopefully the results start coming.
“They have every right to express their feelings and I don’t expect to be clapped off after one point in three games.
“It’s just something I thought I would do today.
“If we went up as a team and all got booed I probably wouldn’t have gone over, but I was on my own so I showed my face and listened to a few people to see what they had to say.”
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