KARL Robinson will be planning for life in Sky Bet League One next season after Oxford United's fourth straight win.

The 3-1 success at Walsall came despite Marcus Browne being sent off just before half-time.

It stretched their winning streak, which took them to 52 points.

No side has gone down in the third tier with that tally in the last 25 years - and while they are not mathematically safe, realistically it will be enough to keep them up.

Robinson said: "Oxford United’s sustainability in this league has always been everybody’s first objective.

"I didn’t want it to happen in April, I wanted it to happen much earlier than that.

"But for us to get to 52 points it’s been an amazing six weeks."

On the game itself, the U's boss hailed his players' efforts.

He said: "I thought we were brilliant. We rode our luck a little bit after we got the second goal.

"We defended very well (apart) from their goal, which was silly and we let them back in it.

"But we knew what type of game it would be and they did everything they could to stop us playing our style."

Walsall, who dropped to 22nd place as a result of their fifth straight defeat, sacked manager Dean Keates within an hour of the final whistle.