JAMES Henry admitted Oxford United will need to come up with solutions quickly to deal with teams sitting deep after a frustrating start to the Sky Bet League One season.

Lincoln City had far less of the ball, but still ran out 2-0 winners as they capitalised on a couple of defensive mistakes.

While the Imps were at home, the lack of a crowd meant they were under no pressure to take the initiative.

Having been given an invitation to control the ball, United found it tough to create chances against a packed defence and did not have an effort on goal until just before the hour mark.

After reaching the play-off final last season, Henry acknowledged Karl Robinson’s side had become a scalp, so it is a tactic they are likely to come up against regularly.

“I think the way we play teams are going to sit off us,” Henry said.

“We saw that at home against AFC Wimbledon (a week earlier) and it’s going to be hard to break teams down.

“We’ve just got to be patient and keep creating those chances.”

He added: “The future’s good. You saw from last season we were still trying to build.

“But the league is very unforgiving, so we can’t be talking about building still in three or four weeks.”

United felt referee Andy Davies did them no favours, particularly with a couple of penalty shouts against Matty Taylor, and intend to appeal Rob Atkinson’s red card in stoppage time.

But there was also a sense that both goals could have been prevented.

For Henry, the Imps’ second via a set piece was especially irritating.

He said: “The disappointing thing is we were in the game at 1-0 and then we concede from a set piece.

“We’ve been working hard on it, it’s such a vital part in this league.

“We were reasonably good at defending them last season – it’s such fine margins and we have to wise up quickly.”

United’s day had started badly when their makeshift dressing room, changed due to coronavirus precautions, did not have running water for players to wash their hands after using the toilet.

But Henry said: “We’re not using any of that as an excuse. That would be weak of us, there will be a lot of that going to every ground.

“Luckily for away teams coming to our place they will have a lovely big changing room.

“Not everyone has those facilities, we’re not blaming anything on that.”