U’s right back Peter Kioso was at fault in the lead-up to Queens Park Rangers doubling their lead as they won 2-0 at Loftus Road last night.
Hoops winger Koki Saito pinched the ball from Kioso close to the right corner of the United penalty box, and seconds later, Sam Field arrowed a low strike across goal into the bottom corner.
Kioso almost played the U’s into trouble again when a sloppy pass across the pitch landed straight at the feet of Hoops substitute Lucas Andersen, who shot into the arms of Jamie Cumming.
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It proved to be a difficult evening for the returning Kioso, back in the squad for the first time since before the November international break.
Kioso fell ill while making his international debut for DR Congo against Ethiopia in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. He played the first 45 minutes and was then taken off at half-time after becoming unwell during the break.
Kioso has since undergone various tests at United and worked his way back to match fitness.
U’s head coach Buckingham said: “We’ve had examples of this all the way through the season where a player makes an individual error, and it’s not just about pulling that whole thing out of the game and blaming it on that.
“It’s not just that in isolation. He has been out for two weeks, and it’s important we get him minutes and get him back up to speed to where he was.
“If he was miles away, he’d have been no way near the squad. He’s been in a good place and passed by the medical team.
“He says he’s fully good, so it’s about making sure we work with him to get him where he was.”
Kioso has played 16 times for the club since joining in a summer switch from Rotherham United, and previously made the right back slot his own amid competition from Hidde ter Avest and Sam Long.
Buckingham said: “He came in and made that right back spot his own. He’s competing with good players. Hidde is in direct competition, and then you’ve got Sam Long at the moment who is playing between them both.
“He came in, he held that one down and performed extremely well. The illness has set him back a little bit, but he’s back where he needs to be, and it’s making sure that we continue to work with him to get him as good as he can be.”