An unfortunate own goal from keeper Simon Eastwood and a debut goal from Dale Taylor gave Burton Albion a 2-0 win over the U's this afternoon at the Pirelli Stadium
The goals, shortly before and after half time, will help Burton's fight for survival in Sky Bet League 1, but two defeats on the road this week leave the U's still in the bottom half of the table when they would usually be surging upwards.
Today they had the better of the first and last quarters of the game and the first openings all came their way, but not for the first time this season, they failed to make the most of that.
The first chances, during United's best spell, saw home keeper Craig MacGillivray tip a Matty Taylor effort over the bar and long-serving defender John Brayford head a Billy Bodin drive in a similar direction before Taylor looped a third chance onto the roof of the net after 17 minutes.
Burton then started to gain ground after 25 minutes, and five minutes before the break debutant Zac Ashworth made superb contact with a drive from the edge of the box. The ball flew past the diving Eastwood, hit the left-hand post and flew back to hit Eastwood in the back and bounce back into the unguarded net. An own goal, but harsh on the luckless keeper.
He made amends soon after with an excellent save to deny Taylor when he let fly from similar range, but although only a good block prevented Elliott Moore from equalising before the break, United had let a promising start slip and it was the home side who had a grip at the Pirelli Stadium at half time.
That grip was tightened within four minutes of the restart. A Tom Hamer ball across from the right and Taylor ghosted in front of his man to flick past the exposed Eastwood from close range and make it 2-0.
Having replaced Taylor with Gatlin O'Donkor at the break and brought on Tyler Goodrham and Yanic Wildschut for Billy Bodin and Marcus McGuane, the U's needed something to lift them. Wildschut had a couple of promising runs, Kyle Joseph ran himself into the ground, but Burton refused to let them get a clear sight at goal other than a tame effort from Lewis Bate after 73 minutes. When Wildschut did get a chance with ten minutes left, Hamer threw himself in front of him and Burton's clean sheet was assured.
Lots of effort, plenty of perspiration but not enough moments of inspiration. A good week off the pitch. A bad one on it.
Att: 2,993
Away: TBA
Report by Chris Williams, pictures Steve Edmunds and Darrell Fisher