KARL Robinson could not praise his players enough after Oxford United’s 2-1 win at Doncaster Rovers.

The U’s controlled most of the Sky Bet League One contest, but had to wait until James Henry’s 87th-minute strike to seal victory.

Mark Sykes had given United the lead in a dominant first half against the division’s bottom side, who have Gary McSheffrey in caretaker charge after sacking Richie Wellens last week.

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Doncaster rallied after the break and equalised through Branden Horton 16 minutes from time, but Robinson felt his side fully deserved to win.

The U’s head coach said: “What an outstanding performance by all my players.

“I thought our football in the first half was as perfect as you’re going to get, except for the fact that when you play that well you don’t respect the opportunities that come your way.

“We were playing a team with good players, the three players they brought on are good players at this level.

“The left back’s a prospect here and he took his goal really well.

“Sometimes you need setbacks in a game to challenge you, I’m not saying we want that every week.”

Robinson added: “I was in awe of our players. That’s scintillating.

“We moved the football around with tremendous ease and a confidence, which was so pleasing to see.”

WATCH: Highlights of last night's game

United had chances to add to Sykes’s strike before the break, with Cameron Brannagan twice shooting just wide.

The midfielder was replaced by Henry at half-time after feeling stiffness in his hamstring, although he is expected to make a quick recovery and could be involved at MK Dons on Saturday.

United should have been out of sight before Horten’s equaliser, with Matty Taylor and Gavin Whyte seeing goals chalked off for offside and the latter thwarted by Louis Jones one-on-one.

Top-scorer Taylor then missed two good chances after the hosts levelled, before Henry’s winner.

“We’ve scored over 100 goals this year, it’s not like we’re scratching around for goals but we need to be more ruthless,” Robinson said.

“Sometimes when you play that way you’ve got to be careful.

“We can nit-pick, but today the headline should be ‘outstanding Oxford’.

“Let’s not get away from the fact it’s only a one-goal deficit, but we were sensational.”

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Last night’s game fell in the middle of a tough run of fixtures where United play five of the top nine teams in League One.

They would still have made it eight games unbeaten with a draw, but Robinson admitted it would have been tough to take.

He said: “We would have been devastated.

“It would have been a real kick in the guts and a really disappointing return.

“But it’s four points in the last two games and our unbeaten run carries on.”