RYAN Williams insisted Oxford United will keep ‘rolling with the punches’ after they bounced back from a nightmare 48 hours to go toe-to-toe with Wigan Athletic.

The U’s recorded four positive Covid tests ahead of the Latics’ visit, while James Henry became the seventh player to miss out for other reasons when he limped out of the warm-up with a calf injury.

It meant United had just 13 members of their first-team squad available against the Sky Bet League One high-fliers, having postponed the return fixture last month after another outbreak of the virus.

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But they shrugged off a difficult build-up to battle back from 2-0 down, Williams and Matty Taylor scoring either side of half-time, before James McClean’s 86th-minute strike gave Wigan a 3-2 victory.

It came after United were severely depleted by Covid in their previous two home games, against Fleetwood Town and Rotherham United last month.

Williams said: “It was a big miss for Jamo to be injured, but with what’s happened over the last few days and what happened last time we played Wigan, everyone rolls with it just now.

“That’s a good thing for us and hopefully we can keep rolling with the punches.

“The past week has just been red (protocols), we’ve been coming in, training and leaving.

“It’s not ideal, but you’ve got to stand up to the test because everyone’s got to deal with it. Don’t complain and try to use it to your advantage.”

The entertaining clash was one of just six to go ahead in League One this weekend, amid a wave of Covid-enforced postponements across the divisions.

Second-placed Wigan were always likely to pose a stern test, boasting the best away record in the division and a 12-game unbeaten run.

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The Latics went 2-0 up after 32 minutes through Will Keane and Max Power, but Williams – making his first league start since September 4 – responded instantly to halve the deficit.

United were on top for much of the contest and leading scorer Taylor equalised just before the hour mark, only for McClean to end their nine-match unbeaten run in the third tier.

Williams added: “It was like a perfect English game – it had some good football, some long stuff, some tackles.

“Although we didn’t win, it was enjoyable to play in because of how ferocious everything was.

“It’s good to come in after so long, but I enjoyed it.”

After starting United’s first three league matches of the season, a combination of injuries and his teammates’ good form means Williams has struggled for minutes in League One.

But the 28-year-old Australian insists he is not one to make a fuss about a lack of game-time.

The winger said: “It’s been difficult, I’ve had a couple of injuries but the boys have done well.

“I want to play more – I’m a footballer – but we’re in a good position and we’ve got strength in depth.

“Hopefully that’s given him (Robinson) something to think about.

“I’m not really a door-knocker, to be a good leader is also to be a good follower at the same time.

“I’ve got to give him a headache at the right times.

“I’m the kind of guy to crack on with it.”