KARL Robinson insists Oxford United’s poor form in front of goal is only a blip.

Elliot Lee’s last-minute equaliser at MK Dons on Saturday was the first time the U’s had found the net in more than six hours of football.

A frustrating spell contrasts dramatically with United’s first nine matches of 2021, which produced 22 goals and included wins of 5-1 and 4-3 at Burton Albion and Rochdale respectively.

But Robinson is confident the U’s luck will change as they prepare for tonight’s home game against Sky Bet League One leaders Peterborough United – themselves the second-highest scorers in the division.

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United’s head coach said: “If you look at Saturday’s game, we were probably a few yards off three or four really good opportunities.

“The ricochets fell in their favour.

“You always go through two periods in the season where things don’t seem to be clicking.

“Before the game on Saturday we were joint-second with the most goals scored since January 1, so I’m not going to worry about the last four games.

“It’s about finding the balance that we know we can be competitive.”

Last week, Robinson called for more goals from his midfielders to ease the burden on Matty Taylor and Sam Winnall.

The latter misses tonight’s game with an ankle injury sustained in the second half at Dons, while his teammate typifies United’s change in fortunes.

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Taylor scored six goals in five matches at the turn of the year, but has now gone ten games since he last found the net against Bristol Rovers on January 23.

Robinson said: “Strikers wear that shirt for a reason.

“They have bad days.

“They take the plaudits but they don’t listen to the criticism either, they’re immune to anything other than goals going in the back of the net.

“I wouldn’t swap Matty Taylor for anybody.

“That’s being totally honest, for me he’s as good as you’re going to get in this league.”

United scored just 16 goals in their first 16 games of the League One season, which they spent in and around the relegation zone.

But right back Sam Long feels the U’s are better equipped to put things right than at the start of the campaign.

He said: “We’re confident that we’ve got good goalscorers in the club.

“As long as we create the opportunities, we know the goals will come.

“At the start of the year we weren’t creating chances, but now we don’t have that issue.”