Des Buckingham has bemoaned the penalty decision which cost his side a point against Bristol City on Saturday as the Robins completed a second half comeback to win 2-1 at Ashton Gate.
Ruben Rodrigues had given the U’s a half-time lead despite City dominance but a Sinclair Armstrong equaliser 12 minutes into the second half saw the Robins have the tails up as they searched for a valuable winner.
After fantastic play by substitute Yu Hirakawa set Haydon Roberts free, the left-back was clipped in the box by U’s forward Mark Harris. Although referee Will Finnie took a few seconds to decide, he pointed to the spot much to the delight of the Ashton Gate faithful. And it was Nahki Wells, who replaced Armstrong on 66 minutes, who smashed his spot kick past Jamie Cumming.
Wells’ crucial penalty was enough to see City return back to winning ways after three Championship games without maximum points but succumbed United to their third successive away defeat of the campaign.
However, the penalty decision was something Buckingham felt aggrieved by after the game, which denied his men a first point on the road this season.
The U’s boss told the Oxford Mail: “It’s us adapting to the level. It shows the key moments in the Championship. I think we should come away from here with something.
“We had a big chance when we were 1-0 up, to make it two, and I’ve just seen a replay of what is supposed to be the penalty that won them the game. There’s a big touch from Mark Harris before there’s any other contact as far as I can see, so it’s very disappointing but it is what it is.
“We can’t do too much about it now, we just need to dust ourselves down and get ready for another home game at the Kassam.”
The visitors took the lead against the run of play in the first half when Rodrigues picked up Sirki Dembele’s through ball to tap past Max O’Leary. Despite City having chances to level, another U’s counter attack saw Harris miss from five-yards out which would have doubled Buckingham’s side’s lead.
Although City dominated large parts of the proceedings, the United boss believes his side were unlucky not to come away with all three points at Ashton Gate.
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“We went one up, and then Tyler (Goodrham) had another at the back post if he gets on target, it goes in.” He added.
“We got the goal, and for the chances they had, there’s nothing clear-cut in the chances they had other than the goal that they scored, which is the cutback. Everything else, we managed. Jamie Cumming hasn’t really had to make a real save, but that shows the difference at this level.
“In the first half, I think we were the better team. In the second half, they made a couple of changes, got their goal, and we just need to be a little bit better. I don’t think we played poorly or that we’ve done poorly, we just haven’t maybe been as good as in the first five games.
“We’ve got to understand as well that we’re coming away from home in the Championship, it is a different challenge, and we can’t shy away from that. I feel like we could’ve done a little bit more to put ourselves in a stronger position when we were leading, and until I see the replay properly back, I’ll hold back on the rest of it.”