OXFORD United’s under 18s had every reason to celebrate wildly after a dramatic penalty shoot-out win at Burnley.

But the message afterwards was clear: this should be something you come to expect.

The FA Youth Cup third round tie at Turf Moor was a classic – and gave the clearest hint yet that United’s emphasis on developing the academy was beginning to pay off.

Foundations were laid several years ago, but momentum is gathering and three of the starting line-up in Lancashire have agreed to sign professional deals this season.

Among the spectators on Tuesday was first-team boss Karl Robinson, who was one of the first to offer his congratulations – and advice – in the changing room.

“I said to them ‘win with a bit of class’,” he said. “We’ve got to get into a rhythm where we should be beating teams like that, because we have talented players.

“They were brilliant, but that’s the sign of good players when they enjoy winning but they don’t have to go and brag about it, because they want to make it the norm.”

Robinson rarely needs much encouragement to discuss anything football-related, but developing young players is a particular favourite topic.

His track record of bringing through academy graduates into the first team was a major plus when the U’s recruited him in the spring.

He said: “The under 18s are just as important to me as the first team.

“That might sound ridiculous, but I’ve not just come here to win a few games of football, I’ve come here to change the culture.

“That’s what we did at Charlton and MK and I want to keep that tradition going forward.

“Chris Hackett and Leon (Blackmore-Such) are doing a fantastic job marshalling them through the games.”

He added: “Callum O’Dowda is probably the one where you’d say he’s been the one who has gone on to be the best, but none that I’d class are top Premier League players.

“That’s something we have to improve. (U’s head of academy) Dan Harris is really starting to implement some movements towards that.”

One of the key aims for Harris was to fight back against clubs in the region who had repeatedly poached talented youngsters from Oxfordshire.

And his job has been made easier by Robinson’s keenness to play them.

Fabio Lopes, Slavi Spasov, Owen James and Aaron Heap have all made senior debuts since May – the silver-lining to United’s injury problems.

Robinson, who believes several players in the youth set-up could go on to play in the Premier League, said: “In the dark days of the injuries it’s been amazingly bright for young players coming through the system. That’s got to be something we hold on to.

“One of the big moments of the season is Shandon Baptiste leading the team out against Manchester City.

“If you were a young player in Oxford, why would you want to go to Reading, Swindon or Southampton? Come on.

“We are building a better platform for these young players to say no to all the other teams they’ve said yes to over the last ten years.

“Come here, because you will get an opportunity.”