Oxford United were beaten for the first time in seven league games as goals from Stephen Humphrys and Callum Lang earned Wigan Athletic a 2-0 win at the DW Stadium this evening.
Humphrys early strike and a late free kick from sub Lang settled another close game in which the U's had played a full part without quite showing their clinical nature in front of goal.
They certainly dominated the first quarter of an hour and some of the the passing and movement was particularly neat and tidy. An early effort from Marcus McGuane drew a first save from home keeper Sam Tickle before the hard-running Stan Mills forced Tickle to reach his long arms out and push a low drive round the post after 12 minutes.
However, in a topsy-turvy first half full of thrilling football, it was the home side who made the breakthrough after 17 minutes when they counter-attacked cleverly and a strong run by Humphrys powered him down the right channel.
That opened up space inside the area for him to nudge the ball past James Beadle and the Latics had the lead.
United didn’t let that setback affect them too much, and after the briefest of quiet spells they sensibly played their way back into the game. The energetic Tyler Goodrham, back in the side in place of Billy Bodin, saw two efforts deflected wide by covering defenders, and another Mills effort was safely taken by the keeper as the home side held on to their advantage at the break.
Wigan unquestionably raised their game in the second half. Martial Godo would have doubled the lead had Beadle not been waiting for him and was able to tip his drive round the post after 53 minutes. Tickle matched that with a spectacular save to deny McGuane from 25 yards soon after, but although United weren't doing too much wrong they were finding it hard to break down a Wigan side who looked disciplined and very well organised.
There was a great moment for Alex Gorrin as he returned to action, but his first involvement was a challenge that temporarily prevented a shooting chance. From the resulting free kick, Lang let fly with a beautifully flighted effort that curled over the wall and left Beadle clutching thin air as it nestled into the corner of the net to just about settle the game at 2-0.
United pushed hard for a lifeline, but it was a night where nothing quite fell their way. Beadle needed to make two more good saves to prevent a third goal, but that would have merely changed the final score, not the by-then inevitable outcome.
A third defeat of the season, just the second on the road, but United get an immediate chance to bounce back. What better way than against Wycombe Wanderers at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday? Come and get behind them.
Att: 9,108
Away: 644
Report by Chris Williams, pictures Steve Edmunds