SAM Long admitted Oxford United came off worse in the key moments as they lost a typically close affair with Portsmouth.

Harvey White’s 48th-minute header proved enough for the visitors, who stopped the U’s cutting the gap to the Sky Bet League One play-off places, while rising to fourth themselves.

United created few clear opportunities until deep into second-half stoppage-time, when Pompey goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray produced two excellent stops to deny Mide Shodipo and Elliott Moore.

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It means the eighth-placed U’s, who are now five points off the top six, have failed to win their last three matches.

Long said: “We always knew it was going to be a tight game.

“They’ve scored an early goal in the second half and then it’s a mountain to climb.

“We were unlucky not to get back in it at the end, but that’s football.

“It’s fine margins and if the ball’s slightly softer or Mide anticipates it a tiny bit quicker it’s a goal.”

The defeat ended a run of five successive draws against Portsmouth, who United overcame on penalties in last year’s play-off semi-final.

Long, returning after two weeks out with a hamstring injury, resumed his battle with Pompey winger Ronan Curtis – who was booked for clattering the defender just 14 minutes in.

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The 26-year-old said: “You want to play against the best players.

“We’ve got history from the play-offs, but it was a night that we had to do a job.”

United have now gone three games without scoring for the first time since December 2019, but head coach Karl Robinson is not concerned.

“We have two very good strikers,” he said.

“Mide’s scored ten goals this season and you never expect him to miss.

“It doesn’t worry me, fine margins in football are always great saves or millilitres wide of the post.”