OXFORD United’s game-changing formation switch against Sheffield Wednesday was not a pre-planned move, says Karl Robinson.

The U’s started in a 4-2-3-1 system, but decided to match the Owls’ 3-5-2 with five minutes left of the first half.

It made United more defensively solid, after Wednesday had been comfortably on top, while the hosts asked far more questions of the visitors going forward after the break.

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Mark Sykes was the stand-out performer in an unfamiliar right wing-back role, but Robinson revealed the Irishman was only stationed there due to Elliott Moore's muscle injury that saw him substituted at half-time.

“It (the switch to 3-5-2) was in the moment, because we’d seen something that we needed to do,” he said.

“I thought we started okay, their goal came a little bit against the run of play.

“Then for 20 minutes we lost control of the game.

“They should have had a blatant penalty on (Jack) Hunt from Sedds (Steve Seddon) and we had to do something to see that first half out.

“We changed tactically and we felt that worked.

“We were late out (for the second half) because we looked at one or two things tactically.

“We were going to put Longy (Sam Long) to right wing back and Nathan (Holland) might have been the sub at half-time, but all of a sudden Elliott comes in (injured).

“You’re comfortable with that back three, Luke (McNally) was going to go on anyway and Longy would sit in the middle.”

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Sykes showed great energy up and down the right flank, with his defensive work particularly notable.

Robinson added: “That’s why he’s so important to the football club, because of what he can give us in flexibility.”