MATTY Taylor’s goal against Gillingham was made on the training ground, revealed Karl Robinson.

The Oxford United No 9 bagged his second of the season less than five minutes into the 1-1 draw at the Kassam Stadium, latching onto Herbie Kane’s first-time through ball.

The U’s found Taylor in goalscoring positions much more regularly than in recent weeks, with the striker heading against the woodwork moments later and taking seven shots in all.

Robinson explained this was something United had practiced and he was delighted to see it come off.

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“I reflected (before the game) on how much he cares and I was really proud of him scoring the goal,” the U’s head coach said.

“We worked on Matty making fewer runs outside the box.

“Stay in the middle of the 18-yard box, don’t come outside for throw-ins on the turnover.

“Make sure you almost cheat, so when we do win it back you’re in.

“The goal was something we spoke about quite consistently.

“Herbie Kane sees forward passes quicker than anyone we’ve got and that makes it a real key for us.”

Although United lacked the killer instinct to turn their 73 per cent share of possession and 25 shots into three points, Robinson noted one improvement on last weekend's defeat at Cheltenham Town.

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The U's barely had a sight of goal after going behind to the Robins, but created far more openings against Gillingham.

He said: "The big thing for me is the players’ attitude was fantastic – they never stopped doing the right things.

"I know people get frustrated when we go back, but we do that to create chances.

"If you keep asking questions in the middle of the pitch they (the opposition) congregate around that area.

"You have to move people, tire people out, you’ve got to keep the ball.

"Last week we didn’t have any chances late on, but we had two, three or four (this week)."