THERE was a heated discussion in training earlier this week over Oxford United’s strategy from corners, boss Karl Robinson has revealed.

The U’s have earned 445 corners over the past 18 months, but they had scored just three times from the first contact in the box.

They looked a different proposition in midweek, though.

Despite facing a Barnsley side who had the best defensive record in Sky Bet League One, United were a real threat.

The opening goal of their 2-2 draw came from a Cameron Brannagan delivery, finished off by Josh Ruffels.

Curtis Nelson had a header turned on to the crossbar from another set-piece – and the centre back was at the heart of a discussion about corners with Robinson on the eve of the match.

The head coach said: “Me and Nelson had a bit of an argument on Monday about them.

“I don’t mind debates within the club as long as the beneficiary is the team.

“That’s what we’re about.

“We’re about aggression, detailed planning, desire, wearing our hearts on our sleeves and if somebody doesn’t agree with something then tell me and we’ll talk about it.

“We’ve worked it out and the players were immense.

“We should be able to have debates, it’s healthy. I don’t want to manage ‘yes men’.

“I want to manage men and I enjoy the challenge of a group that’s opinionated.”

Ruffels added: “We worked on it a bit in training.

“We had our opinions on what was going to be the best way to get a goal.

“Thankfully it paid off and I got on the scoresheet.”