KARL Robinson revealed he did not watch Cameron Brannagan’s match-winning penalty against Cheltenham Town.

The Oxford United midfielder fired home from the spot in the 86th minute, having equalised with a brilliant free-kick moments after Taylor Perry gave the Robins a second-half lead.

Both teams ended the game with ten men after Billy Bodin received two bookings in quick succession at 1-1, before Ellis Chapman was handed his second yellow card in stoppage-time.

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Ultimately, the U’s earned their first away win of the season after a difficult opening month that has left them at the wrong end of the Sky Bet League One table.

And Robinson admitted he could not bear to look as Brannagan sent Luke Southwood the wrong way for his fourth goal of the season.

“I didn’t watch it,” the U’s head coach said.

“With what we’ve been through this season, it’s been so hard for every single one of us but we just keep doing the right things.

“When that penalty gets given, I’m thinking ‘please’ - for my players more than anything.

“Thankfully, the talented right foot of Cameron Brannagan bailed us out today.

“The boy’s special, I’ve known him since he was six and we’ve got a love-hate relationship. That will continue.”

There was confusion over the penalty decision, which was apparently awarded after a shirt-pull by Cheltenham captain Sean Long on Matty Taylor as United floated in a cross.

The linesman flagged for a foul and referee Charles Breakspear booked Robins defender Caleb Taylor.

Robinson did not expect the official to award the penalty, while he felt Cheltenham striker Alfie May was offside in the move leading up to Bodin’s second booking, for a high challenge on Ben Williams.

The U’s boss said: “We saw Matty’s shirt being pulled, but I saw that four times in the first half and it wasn’t given so I was surprised when he gave it.

“It’s the right decision, he’s clearly dragged him to the ground.”

He added: “I don’t know how Billy’s is a booking – the first one he’s jumped and caught him with his arm and I’d be asking for that, but for the second one he wins the ball.

“Alfie May was clearly offside and he didn’t give it, and that’s the bit that infuriated me a little bit.

“I want to speak to the referee, because I want to know about the offside – if he thinks he’s not interfering he’s got that wrong.

“I thought he refereed the game really well and got the big decisions right, which is important for a manager.”

United looked set for another defeat on the road when Perry put Cheltenham ahead in the 63rd-minute after the visitors failed to clear a free-kick.

But Brannagan’s double secured a turnaround victory and Robinson was thrilled to earn three points for the 1,209 travelling fans.

He said: “It was a big one, because of bringing so many fans here.

“We wanted to send them back down the A40 with a party atmosphere and the noise they made was sensational.

“We’re furious about the (Cheltenham) goal, we’ve had words internally and the players know whose fault that was.”