OXFORD United’s lack of goals should concern the squad’s attacking players, according to Michael Appleton.

The U’s head coach bemoaned a lack of belief in the final third as they lost 2-0 at Burton Albion to slip within four points of the Sky Bet League Two relegation zone.

The visitors had just one effort on target all afternoon, a tame shot from Danny Hylton.

United, with just 33 goals in 31 league games, have scored just once in the last three matches, via centre back Johnny Mullins.

Appleton admitted there was a lack of confidence in the final third.

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He said: “It’s not preying on my mind, but I hope it’s preying on a few of the centre forwards’ minds because that’s their job and what they’ve got to do.

“There have been one or two opportunities when they’ve been in good positions and (it’s a case of) can they be confident to beat people in one-versus-one and create something themselves?"

“We didn’t do that enough and certainly it should be preying on their minds, because it’s their job.”

He added: “Hylts and Pat (Hoban) had a couple of opportunities to get shots off and it didn’t quite happen.

“Our best opportunity fell to our goalscorer at the minute, John Mullins.”

Appleton spoke in the build-up about how difficult Burton were to play against when they had a lead.

So the U’s boss was unhappy the Brewers opened the scoring after 14 minutes, with their first real attack.

He said: “When they go ahead, they sit with two banks of four and drop one of the strikers in there.

“They’re very difficult to break down so it was important to try and get that first goal to get them to come out of their holes and try to open them up.

“As it happened, they scored with their first attack, which didn’t help and made the task a bit more difficult.”

Appleton handed teenager Josh Ashby his second start in midfield.

Although the rookie hit the bar late on, he had a difficult afternoon, but the U’s boss felt it would stand him in good stead.

“Josh had a good day from an experience point of view,” Appleton said.

“He gave the ball away leading up to the second goal, but those type of things from an education point of view will be invaluable to him.”