OXFORD United’s squad got ‘things out in the open’ during a long debrief on the Fratton Park turf, according to Curtis Nelson.

The squad returned to the pitch after the game and spent half an hour going over their 4-1 defeat at Portsmouth.

It followed a similar scenario in the wake of the 4-0 loss away to Barnsley a fortnight earlier, but this one was longer and more vocal.

While such self-analysis after games normally comes in the dressing room, Nelson felt there was nothing unusual about another post-game meeting in a more public setting.

The skipper said: “We just had a chat. A lot of things have been said.

“A lot of things we talk about as a group. We have to keep ourselves together.

“We know what we need to do to turn this around. It’s about going into Tuesday now and putting it right.”

He added: “It was getting things out in the open, as players.

“If you’re not in football you wouldn’t understand, but it’s one of those things that happens.”

The need for such introspection so early in the campaign reflects United’s sorry start.

The only side in Sky Bet League One without a point from their opening three games, they have problems at both ends.

As a centre half, Nelson’s focus is on the goals against column, which is alarmingly into double figures already.

He said: “As a back four it’s very disappointing, probably the worst thing ever.

“If we come off with a clean sheet then we’ve done our jobs. We haven’t been doing our jobs.

“It is a squad thing but as defenders we have to take more responsibility for that.”

Just as at Oakwell, United were backed by well over 1,000 fans, who went home unhappy.

Nelson said: “We’re always grateful to the away support, they’re very good.

“We can never complain and can only apologise for the way the game went.”