Martin fumes at three 'stupid' Oxford goals

Russell Martin was left to lament three goals he felt were preventable as his side were beaten 3-2 by Oxford at the Kassam Stadium on Tuesday.

Matty Taylor scored after five minutes, tapping in from close range before Sam Long was given a free header just before the hour mark, either side of a Cameron Jerome equaliser. Olamide Shodipo scored a terrific strike late on before Ben Gladwin's stoppage time consolation as Dons dropped back into the relegation zone.

The home side did their level best to hinder Dons' passing game at every angle during the second half in particular, but it was the nature of all three of Oxford's goals which angered Martin at the full-time whistle.

"We started terribly," said the manager. "It's something we've worked on recently, dealing with crosses and being ready. But we didn't deal with it, which is nonsense. We got back into it and looked the better team in the first half. They've done nothing to hurt us to score goals. But we've shot ourselves. And then we gave them another goal from a set piece, and gave him a free header in the six yard box. That gave them something to hold on to.

There was one team trying to win it, one team trying to stop the other. We have to deal with things better. We gave them such a soft second goal and it changed the course of the game. We give teams too easily, something to hold on to, something to fight for. We saw it at the weekend, we score first and it's a different game.

"After their third goal, we decided to play again, we found our rhythm but by then it was too late. If you concede three away from home you're not going to win games.

"We have to show up, be us and stop conceding stupid goals."