DANNY Rose believes Oxford United are getting better at dealing with setbacks after they came from behind to draw 1-1 at Cheltenham Town.

The visitors enjoyed the best of the first-half chances, but fell behind to Byron Harrison’s well-taken goal six minutes after the break.

It was rough on the U’s, who had a tendency earlier in the season of dominate, conceding against the run of play and struggling to recover.

That period included a 2-0 defeat at Whaddon Road in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

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But Rose felt the response on Saturday, where they quickly equalised and only a fine display from Robins goalkeeper Trevor Carson prevented them winning the game, showed the team was on the up.

He said: “We spoke before the game that there was going to be a point where we would have to deal with some sort of disappointment, whether that was conceding a goal or having a decision go against us.

“Two or three months ago maybe we would’ve gone on to lose the game, but we’re quickly learning to ship disappointment out of our mindset and go again.

“There was plenty of time left after they scored and that’s something we have really improved on.”

Mental resolve is a difficult attribute to coach into players, but the 26-year-old thought it lay in recent form which has seen the side unbeaten in four games.

He said: “I think it’s more of a belief in what we’re trying to do in terms of the way we are playing.

“They were always going to drop deep late on and I think that was in response to how we were playing and the ascendancy we had.”

Tyrone Barnett scored United’s equaliser, but it was made thanks to a precise pass from Andy Whing.

The midfielder is more known for his talents at destroying moves by the opposition rather than creating chances, but Rose was not surprised by the flash of flair.

He said: “Everyone knows what Whingy’s about. He does the hard stuff as well as anyone in the league and he showed he’s got the quality to split the defence with a pass, so Ty had to do the easy bit.”

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