KARL Robinson insists Oxford United are still a long way short of the standards he wants to hit despite an encouraging run.

The U’s have responded from a difficult start to win three and draw one of their last four games in all competitions.

Only one of those have come in Sky Bet League One, though, where they remain in the bottom four ahead of Sunday’s televised clash with Coventry City.

Robinson said: “I don’t think it’s been as bad a start as people think it is.

“We’ve had four wins, four losses and a draw.

“OK the wins have (mainly) come in cup competitions, but we’ve still won.

“We’ve steadied the ship a little bit but we’re nowhere near what I want and it’s important you know that.

“I know where we have to improve and it’s something we’re still trying to do.”

On top of a testing injury list, United’s opening six games have come against five of the division’s top eight.

But their next half-dozen fixtures look more favourable, with four of them coming against teams in the bottom half.

Robinson senses an opportunity, if the U’s can keep improving.

He said: “That’s not being disrespectful to anybody, they’re as hard as any other.

“We’ve got to be at our best always.

“We’ve not had many shots on our goal recently, we’ve really tightened up that defensive area.”

He added: “If we get four or six points from the next two games we’re really in this.

“And we’ve now played Sunderland, Barnsley and Portsmouth away.”