ENDING a five-match barren run in front of goal proved no consolation for Oxford United’s top-scorer Wes Thomas.

The 30-year-old neatly fired into the bottom corner from the edge of the area on 44 minutes to make it 1-1 at home to Northampton Town.

But 60 seconds later, the Cobblers were ahead again as an individual error led to Chris Long beating Simon Eastwood.

Thomas, who had not found the net since the victory over AFC Wimbledon at the beginning of October, hit his sixth goal of the season in the defeat.

Although it is his best return since the 2014-15 campaign, the strike came second to the disappointment of a fourth straight loss in all competitions.

Thomas said: “It’s disappointing, but we’ve just got to keep going and it should turn around.

“We’re just going through a rough patch at the moment. But I’m confident we will come through it.”

United’s shortfalls at present are clear for all to see.

And Thomas says while they have been their own worst enemy in recent games, he feels slightly aggrieved that a lot of the errors the U’s are making are leading to goal.

He added: “We’re frustrated.

“We know we’ve got ability in this team.

“We just need to cut out the silly mistakes, because we seem to be getting punished for them every single time.”