PEP Clotet was at a loss to explain a collapse in Oxford United's defensive organisation which saw them slump to a defeat to Bury.

James Henry's first-half strike put the hosts on course for three points against a Shakers side adrift at the bottom of the table.

But the visitors, who had not scored in almost 14 hours of Sky Bet League One football, struck twice in three minutes.

It sealed their first away win in almost a year, which Clotet knew should never have happened.

United's manager said: "We have to win that game.

"I think we had control, it was not an open game but we expected that.

"Our defensive work has been very solid for the whole game until that throw.

"We knew they would be a physical side and they would try to outmuscle us and we had to get the first contact from throw-ins.

"We missed the first contact and we were not ready enough to avoid a clear shot from three or four yards.

"Despite us having good attacks I think we completely lost our organisation trying to win a game we were counting on winning.

"That left us in the end on that long ball without cover.

"We are normally very organised from those sorts of balls, but no-one dropped and they found the gap.

"It was a clear one-on-one with the keeper and that was not understandable or acceptable."

He added: "We should have won after the 80 minutes that we did and it’s very tough for us not to win this game.

"I understand the fans’ frustration and they can imagine my frustration as well."

United had looked solid at the back, but a wayward backpass from Dwight Tiendalli saw goalkeeper Simon Eastwood scramble to concede a cheap thrown-in, from which George Miller equalised.

Midfielder Josh Ruffels said: "It’s just decision-making.

"Passing it back to the keeper and it being that bad a ball – I’m not blaming him but it’s just the wrong decisions at the wrong time.

"We’ve got to step it up because it’s costing us really badly.

"It’s too easy. We talk about second balls in training all the time and to allow them to score like that is just not on.

"I thought we were comfortable and had it under control, but one thing led to another and we ended up 2-1 down.

"It’s bitterly disappointing."