Half-time tunnel fracas inspired Oxford to Shrewsbury Town turnaround, says Karl Robinson

Town surrendered their lead against the 10-man visitors as Gavin Whyte completed a super hat-trick to down the hosts in the final 20 minutes.

The defeat was damaging for Sam Ricketts' men who, at 2-1 up, looked all-but mathematically safe in the League One survival fight owing to their superior goal difference.

But former Charlton chief Robinson suggested heated scenes at half-time helped create a 'siege mentality' within the Oxford ranks.

"A few things happened in the tunnel at half-time which were horrendous," said Robinson. "It doesn’t half get you back up.

"We were angry with a number of different things, maybe not to do with their players, but other things.

"It became a siege mentality and tactically we got it right."

Ollie Norburn's penalty, an 11th goal of the season, made it 1-1 early on after Whyte's opener before Greg Docherty's 10th goal of the season put Town 2-1 up following Ahmed Kashi's red card.

But Shrewsbury were 'passive' and 'going through the motions' in the second period, according to Ricketts, and paid the price for poor defending late on.

Robinson also felt his side were harshly done by Kashi's dismissal for a lunge on Tyrese Campbell.

He added: "It’s not a sending off, it’s a tackle. The pitch was dry and long, bobbly.

"It’s popped up and he’s tried to reach it with his toe.

"You never want to see a player get injured, but what made it worse was the two shin pads collided.

"That was my worry initially and then I was furious at the referee for my player getting sent off."

Town are 16th in League One, four points clear of the drop zone with two matches to play.