A FIRST goal for Oxford United was of little consolation to Kane Hemmings, who felt the side lacked intensity in their loss at Bristol Rovers.

The 24-year-old marked his first start for the club with an eye-catching finish.

Hemmings fired a low shot in off the post from 25 yards to level the scores at 1-1 just before half-time.

But it was not the platform for United to go on and seize the initiative.

Instead, Sam Long was sent off and Rovers went on to win the game 2-1, with Matty Taylor scoring 20 minutes from time.

It meant Hemmings took little joy from getting off the mark with the U’s.

He said: “I’m more worried about the points.

“I think we were down on a few departments, maybe the intensity wasn’t there that we usually show.”

He added: “It’s never easy to play with ten men, especially after a tough week physically.

“But at the same time, we could’ve dealt with the goal better, starting with me and a lot of things.

“It’s disappointing to lose the goal, it was soft.”

Hemmings would have loved to get the sort of chance which fell to Tyler Roberts in stoppage time.

The West Brom loanee looked certain to make it 2-2 from close range, but turned Liam Sercombe’s cross over the crossbar.

Hemmings said: “It was a difficult chance, you’ve seen them missed before.

“He won’t get too down about it.

“The boys will encourage him to get in the positions again.

“We’ll regroup and look forward to Wednesday (at Fleetwood Town).”