Oxford United:
Billy Turley, James Clarke, Luke Foster, Karleigh Osborne, Chris Carruthers; Yemi Odubade (Levi Reid 83'), Adam Murray, Joe Burnell, Phil Trainer (Lewis Haldane 50'); Jon Constable, Jamie Guy.
Subs not used: Ben Hinchliffe, Sam Deering, Barry Quinn.

Booked: Burnell foul 1', Guy foul 45', Turley dissent 57', Haldane foul 73'

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Dan Gleeson, Phil Bolland, Wayne Hatswell, Danny Brown; Robbie Willmott (Chris Holroyd 78'), Jon Challinor, Paul Carden (c), Felino Jardim (Mark Convery 78'); Danny Crow, Lee McEvilly.
Subs not used: Steven Drench, Josh Coulson, Chris Jones.

Booked: Bolland foul 54', Hatswell foul 64', Challinor 86' dissent

A lacklustre U's side only threatened in brief spells against under-pressure Oxford and had no answer to the home side's workrate and finishing.

Gary Brabin was forced into making two changes to the side that drew 1-1 at Mansfield, handing Danny Crow his first start in place of Chris Holroyd (hamstring) and recalling Robbie Willmott to the right wing. Jon Challinor switched into the centre of midfield and Danny Brown moved to left back in place of Anthony Tonkin (ill).

Oxford boss Darren Patterson recalled defender Luke Foster after suspension while Chris Carruthers was named at left back in place of Barry Quinn and Chris Wilmott. Strikers Jamie Guy and James Constable returned from injury up front in place of Paul Evans and Lewis Haldane.

Robbie Willmott was welcomed back to the fray by a high challenge from Joe Burnell inside 15 seconds, and the Oxford captain was duly booked, but his side took the lead three minutes later. Constable battled his way past Wayne Hatswell as former U's loanee Jamie Guy kept pace alongside him, and when the ball fell to him the Colchester man took one touch before rifling the ball past the diving Danny Potter.

Potter berated his defence two minutes later when an Oxford move fell to Trainer on the edge of the area and he poked a first time shot narrowly wide. United countered through the pacy pairing of Willmott and Jardim and earned a corner, but Oxford keeper Billy Turley and Lee McEvilly both failed to make contact with Jardim's whipped in flagkick.

With both sets of fans giving their teams good backing, Oxford looked the more likely side at this stage. Wayne Hatswell did well to cut out a dangerous cross at the expense of a corner in the 20th minute and Danny Potter collected Trainer's low shot at his near post, and a minute later Jamie Guy tried to burst between two United men into space and Paul Carden made a vital challenge to stop him.

Carden launched a swift United move on 23 when his raking pass picked out Willmott in space on the left and the youngster's cross was headed behind with Crow inches away. The resulting corner dropped for Crow 12 yards out and he volleyed over the bar, and at the other end two minutes later Constable worked to create an opening for Odubade and he stung Potter's hands with a powerful drive from the right.

United enjoyed a brief spell of possession and when Jardim and Crow played a neat one-two on 27 Crow's shot was cleared behind for another corner, but this time Jardim's cross evaded everyone in the area and ran out of play on the far side.

With the home side well on top of proceedings, Hatswell found himself exposed against two Oxford men following a 44th minute free kick but he slid the ball away from one and although it ran for Adam Murray he drove the ball high and wide from 25 yards.

Then in stoppage time Danny Crow was presented with a golden opportunity for his first U's goal. Hatswell headed the ball on to Jardim on the left of the area, he dinked it back into the middle to Crow's feet but the striker scooped it the bar from three yards, receiving a sympathetic pat from the relieved Billy Turley. There was just enough time for Guy to collect his side's second booking for a foul on Phil Bolland before the half-time whistle.

Half-time Oxford 1-0 Cambridge

Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"A poor half from United on the back foot from the fourth minute, yet amazingly could and should have gone in level. They need to set the alarm clock now."

Second half:
Both sides emerged unchanged for the second half and as United tried to find an early route back into the game Felino Jardim was denied a penalty when he went down under pressure in the area.

Darren Patterson was forced into an early change when Trainer limped off to be replaced by Lewis Haldane in the 51st minute, and moments later Carden's risky backpass was kicked clear by Potter as Constable was inches away from connecting. Moments later Constable was involved again as he raced down the right channel and hurdled a challenge by Hatswell as the ball ran into the area for Haldane and Potter saved with his feet.

McEvilly took matters into his own hands on 52 with a strong run and long-range drive that forced the sprawling Turley to tip the ball round the base of the post, and Danny Brown brought the ball down outside the area a minute later and lifted a rising shot over the bar.

There were a number of running battles on the pitch, including that between Phil Bolland and Jamie Guy, and Bolland was booked on 54 for hauling Guy down following an aerial challenge, but United were level two minutes later at the second of two corners.

Willmott's corner kick was spilled by Turley under pressure from Bolland and fell to Felino Jardim, and the Dutchman drove it back across the area and low inside the far post for his second goal of the season. Turley was clearly upset at Bolland's involvement and collected a booking for dissent in the aftermath of the goal.

United had another chance soon after the restart when Carden slid a through ball for Jon Challinor on the right of the area and the midfielder scooped a shot beyond the far post, and on 58 Willmott drove a low shot from the corner of the area that Turley parried, and although McEvilly darted in to try to make contact he was flagged offside.

After that good spell from Cambridge, Oxford carved out a good move as Odubade fed the ball to Haldane and he drove wide of the near post, and on 64 Hatswell was booked for a foul on the lively Odubade.

The game was open and with both sides seeking another goal there were half-chances at both ends, and Oxford restored their lead on 71 when Guy's shot was well saved by Potter, the loose ball was played back in by Odubade, and although Murray's initial shot hit the bar it rebounded to him and he made no mistake in tucking the ball past Potter from close-range.

Oxford were in the ascendancy and three minutes after the goal Guy's shot was blocked behind by Challinor and Constable headed across the goal and wide from six yards.

Gary Brabin responded with a double change in the 78th minute, bringing on Chris Holroyd and Mark Convery for Robbie Willmott and Felino Jardim and switching from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3, and three minutes later McEvilly's 25-yarder was cleared for a corner but Convery's inswinging flagkick was headed away by giant defender Luke Foster.

Before play resumed Darren Patterson sent on Levi Reid for Odubade, and as tempers threatened to flare Wayne Hatswell received a long talking-to and then Challinor was booked for dissent after disputing a free kick awarded against Carden.

As stoppage time approached United mounted another spell of pressure and the Oxford defenders had to deal with a sequence of crosses, but the home side counterattacked to seal the win in the 93rd minute when Reid picked out Haldane on the edge of the area and the substitute beat Gleeson and curled a fine shot into the top corner.

United had no answer as the home side wound down the clock for the last few seconds before the final whistle sealed The U's first away defeat since March and a drop down the table to eighth place

Ref: Mr N. Kinseley

Att: 4,170 (away 311)

Match Summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"United slumped to their first away defeat of the season after a lacklustre display at Oxford. Trailing to Jamie Guy's fourth minute goal, the U's were fortunate to only be one goal down at the interval, but would have gone in level but for Danny Crow missing a stoppage time sitter. United were better after the break - they could barely have been worse - and when Felino Jardim levelled just before the hour the game was there for the taking. But Murray scored against the run of play to settle Oxford nerves and Haldane's winner was no more than they deserved."

Mark's Man of the Match:
"Dan Gleeson - his most solid game at right back. Hard-working, plenty of cover, and back to his best."

Ref: Mr Kinseley - had a reasonable game. There will be arguments over whether he should have issued a red card and the Oxford fans didn't seem to like him, but he didn't seem to get much wrong. 7/10."

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