MICHAEL Appleton rated the second half at Roots Hall as Oxford United’s best spell of the season so far, writes DAVID PRITCHARD.

They needed a strong response to claim a 1-1 draw, after a disjointed display before the break, when they fell behind to a neat finish from Southend United’s Jack Payne.

What followed was an impressive show of character from the U’s, who would have slipped back to the foot of the Sky Bet League Two table with a defeat.

Danny Hylton’s penalty ensured a share of the points and on the balance of play they could have ended up with all three.

Appleton will have to wait for his first league win in charge, but thought the second 45 minutes surpassed anything United have produced so far this season.

He said: “We’ve had some great performances, but anyone who was here who watched us in the second half will have seen we absolutely crucified them.

“There was only ever going to be one winner.

“(From Southend) it was just a long ball being smashed down the pitch out of desperation because they were hanging on.

“We kept passing, we kept probing, we kept playing.

“We had chances, the keeper was making saves and it’s one the players should be proud of.”

The one downside of the afternoon was on the fitness front, with all three of Appleton’s substitutions enforced by injuries.

Initial diagnoses were mixed after the game.

Joe Riley had to come off after feeling unwell, while Junior Brown had a tight hamstring.

Neither issue appeared too serious, but that does not apply to Will Hoskins, whose panicked reaction as he went down hinted at a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Appleton said: “The most concerning one is Will Hoskins, who felt something pop in and around the hip area, which doesn’t sound good.

“I’m not too sure what the situation will be and it might take a few days or maybe even a week before we know the real extent of what’s happened.”

Meanwhile, United’s second-half performance left Phil Brown relieved his Southend United side held on to take a point.

On the balance of play in the closing stages, Brown was happy just to take something from the game.

He said: “I thought it was a great point to tell you the truth.

“In the end, especially in the second half I thought Oxford were by far the better team and the reason for that is because they got on the end of things far more than we did.

“We had a game plan in the first half and got to half-time 1-0 up.

“Then, from some unknown reason, Oxford came out with nothing else to lose I suppose – chasing the game and got their tails up.

“They were getting second balls in and we stopped playing.

“The reason for that I have no idea, but we stopped playing and they came to the party.

“The bottom line is we got a point out of the game and it could have quite easily been none.”

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