Oxford United Start New Year On Losing Note Despite Dominance

Sam Nombe’s late goal dampened Oxford United’s new year optimism despite a dominant display as the Grecians won 1-0 at the Kassam Stadium.

A three-on-one counter-attack for the visitors started with Jake Caprice running at a lone defender of Marcus McGuane before selflessly letting in substitute Jay Stansfield. Ed McGinty did all he could to stop the Fulham loanee scoring but couldn’t prevent Nombe’s rebound to give the visitors the sole goal in the match dominated by the Yellows.

Nombe’s goal with little over ten minutes to play continued the 24-year-old’s strong season, making it his 11th league goal in his 26 matches.

Oxford United made two changes from their winning side against Charlton Athletic on Thursday night. Billy Bodin was benched due to an illness, allowing Yanic Wildschut his first league start since his CSKA Sofia days last season. Tyler Goodrham also came in for Josh Murphy, the 19-year-old earning his first start for the Yellows.

It was an action-packed opening few minutes. Bate running the ball straight from kick-off won a free-kick in a dangerous area which Cameron Brannagan fired into the visitors’ wall while Josh Key fired over from close range for the Grecians inside six minutes.

The Yellows continued their bright start. Wildschut’s cross from the left-hand side was pinpoint to Goodrham whose header forced a sharp save from Jamal Blackman.

United continued to mount pressure, one-twos between midfield and attack to draw out the Exeter defence creating countless chances which the hosts couldn’t take advantage from.

On the brink of half-time, a McGuane ball found Matty Taylor in the box, teeing himself up a volley and ricocheting off the post, rueing another chance to take the lead.

The hosts started the second half as they ended the first, positive through balls from Brannagan in particular, just not falling at the feet of Taylor on the end of.

Josh Key had a pair of Exeter chances of the half within five minutes of each other. Around the 70-minute mark, first a Caprice cross found the 24-year-old in the box whose shot was blocked.

He then found himself one-on-one with McGinty and after rounding the Yellows’ keeper looked to slot home comfortably before captain Elliot Moore prevented the Exeter man from breaking the dead lock with a last-ditch clearance.

Shortly after, a corner straight off the United training ground, was played out to Brannagan free on the edge of the box who fired a shot, swerving towards the bottom right-hand corner and Blackman was once again called into action to keep the Grecians’ clean sheet intact.

The 1-0 defeat means Oxford slip to 14th in the table before a break in the league brings Arsenal to the Kassam for an FA Cup third round tie.