Karl Robinson said Oxford United “can’t cope with Charlton” as his team went out to stop Josh Cullen during his first return to the Valley since leaving.

The West Ham loanee found himself swarmed with defenders throughout before he was injured in a 50-50 clash with ex-Addick Ricky Holmes.

Lyle Taylor’s eighth goal this season gave the hosts the lead before the half hour mark, but it was wiped out when substitute Gavin Whyte scored minutes after coming on.

The threat of Charlton’s front two, Cullen, and Tariqe Fosu prompted Robinson into devising specific tactics for the scrappy League One affair.

READ: Bowyer: Oxford United should've been down to nine and had goal wiped out

He said: “I thought first half was even, I didn’t really think there was much in it. I thought in the second half we were the better team.

“We can’t cope with Charlton Athletic. This team is a good team, that diamond has been very prominent and I’ve seen you destroy teams.

“Josh [Cullen] is the best six in the league and I’d argue with anybody that Tariqe Fosu is up there with the best number 10 in the league.

“We felt the strikers [Taylor and Grant], the 10, and the six are real prominent in this shape.

“We were looking at systems – playing 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1. If you go 4-4-2 against this you’ll get picked off very quickly.

“We just matched you up, diamond for diamond. When you went to 4-4-2, we went to 4-2-3-1, but we constantly made sure we man-marked Josh Cullen because we honestly feel he’s that good.”

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Cullen, 22, joined the Addicks on loan from Premier League club West Ham during the summer following stints with Bradford City and Bolton Wanderers.

His return to League One football has seen him grab two assists in seven outings with Lee Bowyer’s side as the club looks push for a playoff spot.