A youthful Oxford United were beaten for the first time in pre-season as they slipped to a 4-1 defeat at Bristol City this afternoon.
A Gatlin O'Donkor goal proved to be a mere consolation as two goals from Tommy Conway and strikes from Andreas Wiemann and Jason Knight gave the home side a win.
Having beaten Swansea the night before, United gave others a chance to get minutes: Simon Eastwood made his first appearance of pre-season after a calf injury and Marcus McGuane erturned ahead of schedule after a sore back from the games the previous weekend.
The notable absentees were James Henry and Josh Murphy who weren’t risked after picking up knocks in the 5-1 win over Barnet on Tuesday afternoon, but there were two trialists in the starting line-up and a chance for the scholars to get a taste of first-team action in the closing stages.
City, with former United favourites Mark Sykes and Rob Dickie in the side and Rob Atkinson in the stand (he is making excellent progress after a long-term injury) are a good side and were ahead after 13 minutes when Conway volleyed home a left-wing cross, giving the exposed Eastwood no chance.
However, United rallied and were soon back on level terms when the powerful O’Donkor carried the ball forward, cut inside and then sent a precision finish across the keeper to level at 1-1 after 15 minutes
United matched their Championship hosts in most departments in the first half, although they were grateful to Eastwood for an astonishing save from Conway to keep things level.
However, even the long-serving keeper could do little on 27 when Austrian international Weimann finished from close range to make it 2-1 to the home side and then two goals early in the second half - Knight and Conway with his second of the match - made it 4-1 and the result a mere formality.
Youngsters Zaide Took-Oxley, George Franklin, Kasway Burton and Aidan Elliott-Wheeler were given their chance in the final quarter of the game and added youthful enthusiasm, Elliott Wheeler losing his footing when in a good shooting position and Took-Oxley catching the eye with a good rage of passing.
Read the report from last night's win over a Championship side and you will see the phrase 'result unimportant'. The ever-watchful Liam Manning will learn just as much from this work out, and the players gain just as much fitness, regardless of a first loss of the summer.
The U's move on to one last friendly, at home to QPR next Saturday. Half-price tickets for season-ticket holders and one last chance to see the team in action before the big kick-off...
UNITED
Eastwood, Stevens (Franklin73), Negru, Golding, Trialist, Smyth, McGuane (Took-Oxley 62), Trialist, Bodin (Burton 73), O’Donkor (Elliott-Wheeler 73), Wildschut
Report by Chris Williams, pictures Steve Daniels