KARL Robinson was pleased with several aspects of Oxford United’s performance at Oxford City.

The U’s won 5-2 at Court Place Farm in the two teams’ first friendly of pre-season.

United went 4-1 up inside 38 minutes as Cameron Brannagan’s double, James Henry’s header and Sam Long’s close-range strike turned the tables after Zac McEachran fired City ahead from range.

Read the match report here

Both managers made a host of changes at the break and Latrell Ewers-Humphrey reduced the deficit with another early goal, before Marcus Browne drilled home the visitors’ fifth.

It came just 24 hours after United returned from their training camp in Spain and Robinson was encouraged by what he saw.

“We looked really sharp, surprisingly,” the U’s head coach said.

“I thought James Henry and Cameron Brannagan were magnificent, with JJ (Josh Johnson) that midfield three was really potent.

“Marcus Browne is special, we’ve just got to keep him fit, and Marcus McGuane looks like he’s come back a different animal.”

United’s squad included a smattering of youngsters and Robinson hailed their displays.

He said: “I thought Tyler (Goodrham) did really well, and JJ and James Golding looked outstanding.

“A lot of our young players performed a level above what you’d expect at this time of year.

“These games are for kids to have an opportunity to perform and they did that.”

The annual pre-season curtain-raiser is not always so comfortable for United, with last season’s friendly ending 3-2 thanks to Alex Gorrin’s late goal.

The Spanish midfielder was the only first-team player not involved at Court Place Farm due to the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered in November.

Former Coventry City winger Jodi Jones, who joined the U’s in Spain, was not risked on the artificial pitch for the same reason and Robinson was thrilled all those to feature came through unscathed.

He said: “Their first goal was outstanding, but I thought we showed tremendous energy.

“We’ve been here before and the gulf’s not been that big.

“I’m really happy, when you do the first ten days of pre-season with no injuries that’s always nice because you know you can work harder for the rest of pre-season.”

The U’s boss also praised the hosts, adding: “I wish Ross (Jenkins, City head coach) all the luck in the world.

“We’ve got a tremendous relationship with them, everyone knows how much I like coming down here. We use their pitch quite a lot, our academy trains here.

“Across the board they’re a good club.”