KARL Robinson is confident Oxford United can become a threat from set-pieces again.

The U’s scored 20 goals from corners and free-kicks last season, but are yet to get off the mark in 2021/22.

United showed welcome defensive resilience in their 0-0 draw with Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday, after conceding from two set-pieces at AFC Wimbledon the previous weekend.

But they had 21 corners in those games combined, without seriously worrying the opposition.

The verdict: It was pleasing to see Oxford United stand firm in Wycombe test

Robinson says the U’s will continue to practice set-pieces as they look to find a formula that will lead to goals.

United’s head coach said: “That’s just a technical contribution that we’ll work on.

“We don’t have 600 hours to go through set-plays for and against.

“There’s certain things that’ll come.

“We know last year we were very good in some of the stuff that we did.

“We got a lot of goals from it, we’ve just got to find a way to get back into that.

“Longy (Sam Long) gives you more physicality and he nicks a goal every now and then.”

Long, who scored six times last season, returned from injury as an 89th-minute substitute against Wycombe after missing the first five weeks of the campaign with a calf problem.

United have conceded six goals from set-pieces already this season, as well as three from penalties – although they have scored two from the spot.

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The U’s have lacked ruthlessness in the final third and are yet to win away in 90 minutes in 2021/22 – despite taking the lead in four of their six matches on the road.

They will aim to put that right at Cheltenham Town on Saturday, where United fans look set to fill their allocation for the third game this season.

Fewer than 200 tickets remained as of early yesterday afternoon and Robinson knows three points would tick of an important milestone.

He said: “The next box for me is to go and win away from home.

“That’s when the Wycombe point becomes a good point, if you can turn Saturday into a victory.”