OXFORD United are well aware they let their standards slip on the way to beating Fleetwood Town, says Cameron Brannagan.

The midfielder scored his side’s second goal as the U’s went 3-0 up after 16 minutes.

But the struggling hosts fought their way back into the game and reduced the deficit to 3-2 with efforts either side of half-time.

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United lived dangerously after the break as they held on to keep their faint hopes of reaching the Sky Bet League One play-offs alive.

Brannagan, a former Fleetwood loanee, said: “We were comfy at 3-0 and I feel we got a bit complacent at times.

“It’s frustrating, because we should go 4 or 5 up.

“We should be defending better as a team and keeping clean sheets.

“We’re frustrated and, for me, that’s the sign of a good side because we won a game but we’re not happy.”

Nathan Holland fired the U’s ahead inside two minutes, before Brannagan bagged the visitors’ second and Billy Bodin headed them into a 3-0 lead.

United’s ruthlessness was pleasing after three defeats that were partly down to missed chances and Brannagan insists it was no accident.

The 25-year-old said: “As an individual, you need to take more care when you get in there.

“We picked people out in the right areas and we have people that can finish.”

Ellis Harrison pulled one back from the penalty spot, before Cian Hayes made it 3-2 in the 53rd minute.

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Ciaron Brown cleared off the line shortly after, but it was the closest Fleetwood came to equalising as United claimed their first win at Highbury Stadium.

The Cod Army slipped into the relegation zone as a result and Brannagan knew they would throw everything at the U's.

The midfielder added: "It’s never easy coming to these places.

"We were clinical in the first half and we’ve agreed the second half was far from good enough.

"But we stuck together and got the three points, and that’s all that matters."