DES Buckingham believes Oxford United got a slice of justice when Jamie Cumming saved an early penalty in the draw at Portsmouth.

The spot kick was awarded after just three minutes, when Will Vaulks was adjudged to have handled inside the area.

Cumming though guessed correctly and dived to his left to push away the penalty from Elias Sorensen.

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U’s head coach Buckingham said: “It wasn’t a penalty, so I’m glad he saved it. I said as much to the fourth official.

“It was a very harsh penalty, especially when I look at the ones that have gone against us at Bristol City, and then the two or three that maybe weren’t given to us at Luton the other night.

“The outcome is probably the right thing to happen, but Jamie still needs to go the right way and make that save.”

Asked about the messages that will have been communicated on the bench, and to Cumming, prior to Sorensen stepping up, Buckingham responded: “All that work happens in the week. There are messages that are getting passed, but they’ve already got that.

“Some keepers like to look at it and make a decision before the game that if that player steps up, this is the way he will go.

“Others like to know it, and then get a feel for it in the game on the day. Others I’ve worked with don’t want to know and feel they’re good enough to pick up on the signals they’re given.

“Jamie has that information, but the combination has allowed him to make that save and for us to come away from here with something.”