Oxford United produced a huge performance this afternoon to beat promotion-chasing Sheffield United 1-0, thanks to Siriki Dembélé's first-half strike and a superb resilient second-half defensive display.
Gary Rowett made two changes to the team that started at Middlesbrough last weekend, with Cameron Brannagan replacing Alex Matos and assuming the captain's armband, and Ole Romeny coming into the side in place of the injured Matt Phillips. There were places on the bench for Idris El Mizouni, recovered from illness, and Joe Bennett, recovered from injury.
United bossed the first 10 minutes, creating a number of half chances while remaining relatively untroubled at the back. Will Vaulks' long throws were a potent weapon, while the pace of Dembélé and Przemysław Płacheta also caused problems for the Blades' back line.
Apart from one scuffed effort from Rhian Brewster, Sheffield United were unable to trouble Oxford's defence until the 24th minute, when Jamie Cumming did well to keep out Tyrese Campbell's low drive. It was Cumming to the rescue again on the half hour when he superbly stopped a goalbound drive from Ben Brereton-Diaz.
Just as it looked like the visitors were starting to settle into the game and had ridden the danger, another Vaulks throw caused chaos on the away penalty area. A headed clearance came back into the mix, where Dembélé was waiting. One touch to take the ball away from Michael Cooper in goal, a second touch to place the ball past the goalkeeper for a second goal in two successive home games to give the U's a deserved lead.
As expected, the visitors looked more lively after the break and put United under some early pressure, but the closest they came was a speculative long-range effort from Sydie Peck with 20 minutes to go.
For all Sheffield's second-half possession, Cumming had little to do and as the game ticked over into six minutes of stoppage time the noise from the fans grew as victory looked imminent, cheering every block and every Cumming intervention and every United throw in. This became a crescendo as the full-time whistle blew.
Potentially a priceless three points and there could be no argument that they were thoroughly deserved. There's another big home game coming up against QPR on Wednesday that United will go into full of confidence.
UNITED: Cumming, Brown, Vaulks, Płacheta (Goodrham 81), Brannagan (El Mizouni 87), Harris (Bradshaw 87), Romeny (Matos 68), Nelson, Dembélé (Bennett 81), ter Avest, Helik
Unused subs: Ingram, Long, Rodrigues, Mills
Attendance: 11,496 (including 1,505 from Sheffield)
Fifty/50 draw: Ticket number 47822 wins £1,543.53
Report: Martin Brodetsky; Photography: JasonPix, Steve Daniels, Steve Edmunds, Darrell Fisher
