OXFORD United’s first defeat will not knock confidence – quite the opposite, says Josh Ruffels.

The unbeaten start to the season was ended with a 2-1 loss at Blackpool.

But on the balance of play the visitors would have felt hard done by if they had drawn the game, let alone come away with nothing.

However, Ruffels – United’s goalscorer – felt the performance was strong enough to ensure they came away with more belief than when they arrived.

He said: “It was a weird one for me because it felt like we were going to score every time we went forward.

“It was just one of those days where we couldn’t find the net, but we will gain confidence from it because we played so well.

“We said in the changing room afterwards if you’re going to lose a game, that’s the way to do it.

“As soon as we got in the changing room everyone was saying ‘lift your heads up, don’t be too down, we go again on Tuesday’.”

Ruffels got United back into the game with a header on the stroke of half-time, converting Chris Cadden’s cross to the back post.

It was a carbon copy of a chance earlier in the half which forced a smart save from Jak Alnwick.

“I had a good chance, it came off my shoulder and the keeper made a good save,” he said.

“I saw they had a small guy as the wing back so I thought I had a chance of getting in.

“I got in a couple of times and the balls were coming in. Luckily one paid off.

“It gave us a bit of confidence, it’s just a shame we couldn’t get another goal.”