Oxford United showed a battling side to their game this evening as they beat Hull City through Hidde ter Avest's goal on his full debut for their first win in nine.
United made five changes to the side that lost to Swansea on Saturday. Ter Avest replaced Peter Kioso to make his first start of the season, while Will Vaulks also started alongside Josh McEachran, with Idris El Mizouni coming back into the starting line-up. Greg Leigh also started on the left in a 3-4-3 formation, with Dane Scarlett preferred to Mark Harris up top. In addition, there was a first appearance on the bench for Indonesia international midfielder Marselino Ferdinan.
Oxford started brightly, quick to put the Hull defence under pressure and delivering a couple of long throws into the Tigers area, although it was Kasey Palmer for the visitors who had the first shot in anger, blazing over following a right-wing cross, all within the first five minutes.
After this lively opening the game settled down, with just another blast over from Xavier Simons in the 18th minute the only threat from either side until Abdülkadir Ömür broke the defensive lines and got through on goal, forcing Jamie Cumming into a vital save.
This gave the visitors some momentum and the signal to force United back, with Mohamed Belloumi the next to try his luck, shooting over from inside the area. It was Belloumi with the next effort in the 33rd minute, curling in a shot from the edge of the area that pinged back off the far post.
As the game approached half time, Oxford showed some bite up front, with ter Avest getting his head onto a Leigh cross that Ivor Pandur palmed away, but it was the Tigers that ended the half stronger, winning a string of corners that they were unable to convert.
The second period was less than three minutes old when Hull had their next attempt and it was yet another shot that flew over the bar, this time from Simons. But in the 56th minute it was the U's that drew first blood, and what a cutting move it was. A pinpoint crossfield ball from Goodrham was perfect for Leigh to run on to and his cross was met by Scarlett. However, his contact wasn't great but the ball fell perfectly for ter Avest at the back post to control and smash past Pandur for his first goal on his first start.
Thereafter, it was largely a question of game management for the U's, who were content to allow Hull to have a lot of the ball and look to attack on the break. Chris Bedia came close to ruining United's evening when he was inches away from connecting with a low cross, but that was a rare scare for the Yellows.
Oxford defended resolutely throughout the eight minutes of stoppage time to pick up their first win in nine games to go into Friday's game at Watford with confidence high.
See you there.
UNITED: Cumming, Brown, Vaulks, Moore, McEachran, El Mizouni (Rodrigues 80), Nelson (Long 62), Goodrham, Leigh, ter Avest (Kioso 71), Scarlett (Harris 71)
Unused subs: Ingram, Ebiowei, Dale, Goodwin, Ferdinan
Attendance: 10,213 including 863 away
Fifty/50 Draw: Ticket number 12544 wins £1,165
Report: Martin Brodetsky; Photography: JasonPix, Steve Daniels, Steve Edmunds
