Oxford United boss Darren Patterson revealed his frustration after "uncharacteristic" defensive lapses cost them against Cambridge.

His new-look Oxford team went down to their first defeat in four games as Cambridge completed the double over them with a 2-1 victory to move second in the Blue Square Premier.

But it was a game the Yellows could easily have won. They created plenty of chances in the second half, only to be denied time and again by goalkeeper Danny Potter, who had started off his career at Ipswich as a full back!

The match was won, and lost, however, at the other end with Oxford's central defenders unusually allowing the opposition strikers too much space.

Lee Boylan fired in the opener on 16 minutes, and despite a superb leveller from Matt Green - a powerful toe-poked shot with the outside of his right foot - Boylan's second-half second goal clinched the three points for the visitors.

"I thought we were worthy of at least a draw," Patterson said. "The keeper kept them in the game.

"It was uncharacteristic defending from us for both goals.

"With the first one he was able to cross too easily and we let someone who's 5'9'' or 5'10" score with a header. That shouldn't happen.

"And for the second one, we dropped off and let him run at us."

However, Patterson felt there were still a lot of positives from the performance.

"We responded fantastically well to their first one with an excellent goal from Matt Green.

"I thought he was impressive all night. It's just a pity we're not able to keep him as fit as we would like.

"The pleasing thing is that we're creating chances and although they were third in the league I didn't think there was much between the teams.

"In the second half we didn't pass it as well as we had in the first, but maybe the only difference was that they just had that bit more of a cutting edge than us."