SCOTT Parker credited Oxford United for their disciplined defensive display against his Burnley side.

The Sky Bet Championship clash ended goalless, with the U’s altering their approach against a Clarets side relegated from the Premier League last season and heavily fancied by many to make an immediate return to the top flight.

United sat off deeper than in their previous three home games, and primarily looked to pick their moments on the counter-attack.

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Burnley head coach Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire: “I’m a bit disappointed and a bit frustrated. In the end, they’re a good side that are unbeaten at home, with three wins at home.

“It was a real dogged performance from them, a stubborn team that we needed to break down. They were well-organised.”

Former England international Parker, who played for the likes of Chelsea, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur during his playing career, admitted he was surprised by how the U’s set up against his team.

Parker said: “I was a little bit, but full credit to them in the way they approached the game.

“It was a real disciplined performance, and we had to try and break down 10 or 11 men in that sense.

“In the first half, I thought we had a real dominance about us. We shifted them in terms of trying to make good opportunities, and when the opportunities came, Jeremy [Sarmiento] and Andreas [Hountondji] had two big opportunities which we didn’t manage to convert.”