adminOxford United see off defiant Wednesday to make it two wins from three
Oxford United saw off a defiant Sheffield Wednesday side on Saturday as they made it two wins out of three in a tricky seven days of Championship action.
Goals from Will Lankshear and Cameron Brannagan saw the U’s to victory at Hillsborough despite a second-half strike from Sean Fusire and some sustained pressure from the hosts.
Gary Rowett’s men had gone into the game off the back of a flat performance in a 1-0 defeat to Wrexham in midweek.
Wednesday, on the other hand, had had a tumultuous week after a fan boycott in a 1-0 loss to Middlesbrough preceded the club entering administration on Friday, finally seeing rid of disastrous owner Dejphon Chansiri.
A celebratory Hillsborough was willing Henrik Pedersen’s men on from the first whistle as they tried to push their struggling team towards a result.
It was not long before the deadlock was broken in the Steel City. Just 12 minutes in, Brannagan whipped a ball into the box which bounced towards Lankshear at the back post who dipped to nod it in.
After opening the scoring, United found some joy down the right side with Brodie Spencer almost managing to get an effort off, but he overran the ball as he drove at goal.
Wednesday tried to respond as their first real effort of the game came through Bailey Cadamarteri who swivelled on a pass forward by Svante Ingelsson and struck a shot at the side netting.
A penalty was waved away by referee Paul Tierney shortly after as Nik Prelec went down under pressure, before Cadamarteri had another good chance saved by Jamie Cumming as the striker was played in by Barry Bannan.
Rowett’s men responded with pressure as the high press worked a treat, Filip Krastev dispossessing his man and having all the time in the world to pick his spot, but he took too long and was tackled, sparing Wednesday’s blushes.
The missed opportunity did not shake the U’s though, as they doubled their lead a minute later, skipper Brannagan thumping a free kick from long range in at the near post in what will be a sure contender for goal of the season.
Another successful pressing action saw Prelec win a tackle high up and gift the ball to Krastev who, again, took slightly too long to shoot and had his effort blocked.
A two-goal cushion saw the Yellows into the break in a first half performance that vastly differed to that of the one in north Wales.
The second period did not begin how Rowett would have wanted though, as the hosts pulled a goal back.
A dangerous cross across the face of goal from Wednesday was not met, but the ball fell back to Sean Fusire who drilled it home much to the home fans’ delight.
Pressure ensued for the U’s who saw momentum fall the hosts’ way, Cadamarteri almost equalising as a low ball into the box was missed by the Jamaican international.
The visitors managed to take a slight edge out of the game as time ran down, Cumming not troubled until a 78th minute shot from Yan Valery needed to be saved.
As the Owls began to hoot once more, the Yellows had to rely on counterattacks and almost restored their two-goal lead through Przemyslaw Placheta who was slipped in behind but could not direct his shot on target.
End-to-end action commenced as big chances through Charlie McNeill and Jamal Lowe were both quashed by Cumming.
United again hit back as Placheta put it on a plate for Mark Harris who skewed his tap towards goal.
The clock eventually ticked all the way down as the U’s picked up a crucial three points on the road, seeing them rise to 19th in the table with 12 points from 12 games.
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