KARL Robinson wants to see further evidence of Oxford United’s steely side when they host Peterborough United this weekend.

It continues a tough start to the Sky Bet League One campaign, which began at title favourites Sunderland last weekend.

But Robinson was extremely encouraged by the attitude his players showed to stand firm in front of more than 33,000 at the Stadium of Light.

And the head coach wants a siege mentality this season.

He said: “I think we’ve got that already, haven’t we?

“These are things we can’t replicate in the summer, but our players showed that.

“I think in their heads it’s almost like ‘stuff the lot of you, it’s us against the world’.

Also read: Oxford United tickets for trip to Bristol Rovers set to go on sale

“That’s something managers can’t really get around, they naturally happen.”

He added: “We’ve got a steeliness which I like and there’s a lot more to come.

“We’re in a big week and then we’ve got Peterborough and then it’s Blackpool, who are having a right go as well.”

While United went toe-to-toe with the Black Cats, they also showed a canny side to slow the game down at times.

It irritated the Wearsiders, but Robinson has no problem with his side being unpopular.

He said: “If we have to go to 23 places and we’re hated everywhere (so be it).

“All that matters is our club, our players and our fans. Nobody else.

“If we’ve got to fight everywhere and put up barriers then we’ll do so.

“We’ve got a fantastic ten months where everyone – old, young, man, woman, all my players and staff – we’re one unit.

“And we’re an awful lot stronger as a club when we’re all together.”

More should be known today on whether United’s hopes of bringing in a striker before the weekend will come to fruition.

Robinson saw enough on Saturday to suggest his side can compete, but knows they need to add class up front.

He said: “We picked up where we left off last year with the likes of Marcus Browne, Gavin (Whyte), (Luke) Garbutt and (Jerome) Sinclair.

“Imagine putting those four in this team – it would be a promotion team.

“That’s what we’ve got to find – that stardust which can really explode with power and pace.”