FRUSTRATION was the overriding emotion for Billy Bodin after his two goals against Bolton Wanderers could not prevent a 3-2 defeat for Oxford United.
The forward twice put the U’s ahead in the first half with wonderful curling efforts, only for the visitors to quickly hit back.
Amadou Bakayoko then struck four minutes from time to hand United their second defeat in a row.
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The U’s conceded shortly after scoring against Portsmouth and Wigan Athletic the previous week and Bolton’s Declan John equalised just 60 seconds after Bodin’s opener.
The 29-year-old knows it is an area United must improve.
He said: “It’s always nice to get on the scoresheet, but we’re gutted to concede so early after scoring and that late sucker punch.
“We’ve got to work on game management after you score.
“We need to shut up shop for a couple of minutes and get back in the game.”
United slipped out of the Sky Bet League One play-off places as a result.
United’s third five-figure home crowd in a row – a first for league games at the Kassam Stadium – were treated to four goals in the first half.
Bodin set the ball rolling in the ninth minute, when he found the top corner with a free-kick from the edge of the penalty area.
He said: “Matty (Taylor) came over and said ‘you should shoot’.
“It was quite far, but the wind was with me and I thought if I put it towards the back post you never know.
“Thankfully it flew in the top corner.”
Bodin whipped the ball into the bottom corner on 32 minutes to restore the lead, only for Marlon Fossey to make it 2-2 before half-time.
The forward went off feeling his calf after the break but confirmed this was just a precaution.
He said: “I could feel it getting a bit tight.
“I wanted to carry on, but they said it was best to rest it.”
Bodin has now claimed three goals and three assists in his last five United games.
The ex-Preston North End man only signed a one-year contract when he arrived last summer, but a new deal is in his sights.
Bodin said: “My aim is always to get in the team, do as well as I can and to earn another contract.
“Hopefully if I keep playing well there’s no reason why I can’t get a new deal.”
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