Oxford United fell to defeat at the MKM Stadium tonight as Hull City came from behind to win 2-1.
United took the lead midway through the second half when Michał Helik spectacularly volleyed home, but Hull equalised shortly after through Joseph Gelhardt, and soon after that they won the game with Gustavo Puerta's tight finish.
Gary Rowett made three changes to the side that drew at Norwich City on Friday. Matt Phillips came in for Przemysław Płacheta on the left, the injured Cameron Brannagan was replaced by Rúben Rodrigues, and Ole Romeny gave way to Stan Mills, making his first start for the Yellows since returning to the club from Everton in January. There was also a place on the bench for Ben Nelson, now recovered from the injury that saw him sidelined in the home game against Hull on 5 November.
After weathering some early Hull pressure, United started to find their feet and from one Phillips free kick Elliott Moore headed narrowly wide. From United's next attacking free kick, Will Vaulks brought out a good save from Ivor Pandur as Oxford started to apply some pressure.
A succession of Hull corners ended with Lewie Coyle firing through a crowd of players but his shot went just wide of the far post, and on 34 minutes Puerta wriggled through a couple of challenges before firing over. Puerta also had the next chance for the Tigers, running at the U's defence before shooting low to bring a good save out of Jamie Cumming.
The second half was less than a minute old when a Will Vaulks long throw almost had an identical result to his one that resulted in a goal at Norwich. This time Helik got onto it and flicked the ball goalwards, forcing Pandur to punch clear at his near post with Mark Harris closing in.
Four minutes later and a good press from Rodrigues won possession for United deep in Hull territory. He played the ball into the path of Harris, but his shot lacked the power to trouble Pandur.
There was some concern among the Oxford ranks on the hour mark, as Moore went down in the U's area and required treatment, with Nelson coming on to replace him.
United took the lead in emphatic fashion in the 66th minute. A Phillips corner came out to Helik, and he smashed the ball in on the volley from 16 yards. It was just reward for Oxford's bright start to the second half.
United held the lead for just six minutes before they were punished by a quick Hull break that ended with Gelhardt steering the ball home from close range.
Four minutes later and the game was turned on its head as Puerta took the ball along the byline and somehow squeezed it in from the tightest of angles.
United came close to equalising when a free kick was cleared to Płacheta, who returned the ball goalwards only to see it come back off the crossbar.
Despite a frantic six minutes of stoppage time, in which Gerhardt was dismissed for a second yellow after diving in the penalty area, United were unable to create any further chances and were left frustrated.
There are still plenty of points to play for, starting with a home game against Watford on Saturday.
UNITED: Cumming, Brown, Vaulks, Moore (Nelson 62), Harris, Phillips (Dembélé 78), Matos (El Mizouni 87), Rodrigues (Romeny 78), ter Avest, Mills (Płacheta 63), Helik
Unused subs: Ingram, Long, Thorniley, Kioso
Attendance: 19,024 (Away to be confirmed)
Report: Martin Brodetsky; Photography: JasonPix, Steve Edmunds
