LIAM Manning hopes Oxford United can use their opening day defeat at Cambridge United as a ‘wake-up call’ following a promising pre-season.

First half goals from Jack Lankester and Gassan Ahadme gave Mark Bonner’s side a 2-0 win on the first day of the Sky Bet League One season.

It left Manning frustrated, however the U’s head coach is looking for his team to learn lessons from the loss.

He said: “The result is hugely disappointing. I just said to the players in there, I actually think it could be one of the best things for us madly.

“That grounding and wake-up call, if we make sure we respond and learn the lessons from it, I think it actually could be a positive lesson for us.

“The game went exactly how we knew it would. How we set up, the game plan was exactly what we thought they’d do and ultimately we didn’t make them earn their goals.

“I said to the players there, when you have the volume of the ball we do, and 10 corner kicks to two, we didn’t create a huge amount and lacked quality in the top third, so what you do is come away 0-0.”

Manning added: “Especially in the first half, their alignment and compactness out of possession controlling first contact and second balls, we didn’t do a good enough job of, which ultimately allows them to progress up the pitch and play in chaos, which suits them better than it does us.

“I know we’re not the finished article and we’ve still got a long way to go, and that’s why we have to take the experience and the lesson, and make sure we don’t have it again.

“I’m quite clear we didn’t hit the level we’re capable of. We’ve 45 games in the league to go and there’s a long way to go.

“Of course the result hurts and we don’t want to lose in that manner, but what we have to do is go away and reflect, and make sure we take the lessons from it.”

Discussing the lack of attacking threat posed by his players, Manning said: “They defend really well in block and they’re well-organised, Mark’s got them set up well.

“The expectation that just because you’ve got a lot of the ball, you should create a lot isn’t the case at all.

“You can start loading it up in their box more, but when you’ve got two experienced and extremely physical centre backs, you’re not going to win many duels against them so you have to be a little more creative with how you get in there.

“We got into some dangerous areas at times but nothing came at the end of it.

“It’s a hugely frustrating afternoon but one we can’t sit around feeling sorry for ourselves.”