PEP Clotet admitted he was in for a late night as he searched for answers how Oxford United frittered a two-goal lead on the way to stumbling out of the Carabao Cup in extra-time at home to Cheltenham Town.

A stuttering United overcame Mohamed Eisa’s early goal to finish the first half 3-1 up after Marvin Johnson, Jon Obika and Xemi took their chances.

But the hosts went backwards after Danny Wright pulled a goal back for the Sky Bet League Two underdogs midway through the second half and the substitute struck again late on to clinch a 4-3 victory.

Cheltenham had chances to win the game at the end of normal time, but Eisa’s terrific strike proved the difference as United were stunned.

Clotet was calm afterwards, but was planning to pick through the fine detail immediately.

The U’s manager said: “You always learn more when you lose a game.

“I will have a bad night watching it over and over again and (also) tomorrow, but that’s my job.”

He added: “The victory slipped out of our hands. We had it, but that’s the nature of cup games.”

United had started the Sky Bet League One season with an excellent 2-0 win at Oldham Athletic on Saturday.

But Clotet felt this result was a reality check for his side.

He said: “The nature of the game is you always have to be ready to do your maximum – focus and ability.

“Then you can compete and have a chance.

“We haven’t done it as well as we did on Saturday, so we will just have to learn this lesson and take it forward, otherwise it is more difficult for us to win games.”

Obika said: “They used the strikers and wingers well.

“When you have nothing to lose you have to go for it. I feel we could’ve controlled the game better and that was our downfall.”