Oxford United fell to another home defeat this afternoon against a clinical Sheffield Wednesday side. Once again, United took the lead, this time through Greg Leigh after 17 minutes, but the visitors were level by half-time through Josh Windass. A Jamal Lowe goal immediately after the break gave the Owls the lead and Djeidi Gassama added a third with 15 minutes remaining.
Des Buckingham made three changes to the side that lost at QPR on Wednesday, with Owen Dale and Rúben Rodrigues coming into the side in place of Matt Phillips and Przemysław Płacheta, and Dane Scarlett preferred up top instead of Mark Harris.
Oxford made a lively start, with Dale in particular causing problems for the Wednesday defence, and had the first shot on target in the fifth minute, Scarlett's low drive claimed by James Beadle, once of this parish.
Scarlett again asked the questions in the 16th minute after turning his man and shooting from the edge of the area, the ball blocked for the game's first corner. It was from the set piece that Cameron Brannagan recycled the ball. Elliott Moore's flick found Leigh behind the defence but onside and he flicked the ball beyond Beadle to give the U's the lead.
Oxford weren't content to sit on their lead and in the 25th minute came close to extending it. Rodrigues did well to get the ball into the mix, it came out to Idris El Mizouni and he forced Beadle to tip the ball over the bar.
The game then opened up as Wednesday broke from the corner but the final ball was met by Jamie Cumming. United came forward immediately and a slip by Beadle allowed Scarlett to take the ball around the keeper. Unfortunately he took it too wide and his shot was blocked for a corner.
At the other end, Wednesday found an equaliser from another corner. The delivery was low and flat and with the Oxford defence confused, Windass stepped in to prod the ball past the static back line and into the net.
Oxford looked to respond and one delightful crossfield ball from Rodrigues found Dale in acres of space. He had to check back onto his right foot which gave Beadle the chance to close him down and block the shot.
Wednesday were having some joy from corners and one Shea Charles delivery was met by Djeidi Gassama, his powerful header turned aside by Cumming when it looked destined for the top corner.
The Owls took the lead just three minutes into the second half and it came from a huge slice of luck as Moore's excellent header rebounded to Lowe who had a simple task of finishing past Cumming.
Wednesday made it three on the hour with a sumptuous volley from Gassama from 20 yards to effectively kill the game.
United continued to look to get back into the game but without success and the visitors were able to manage the match to its conclusion.
Just one more game before Christmas and it's in front of another sold-out away end at Elland Road as Oxford visit second-placed Leeds United. See you there.
OXFORD UNITED: Cumming, Brown, Moore, Brannagan, El Mizouni (Vaulks 72), Dale (Phillips 72), Goodrham (Edwards 80), Rodrigues (Harris 72), Leigh, Kioso, Scarlett
Unused subs: Ingram, Long, McEachran, Płacheta, ter Avest
Attendance: 11,567 including 1,492 away
Fifty/50 draw: Ticket number 19775 wins £1,299.50
Report: Martin Brodetsky; Photography: JasonPix, Steve Daniels, Steve Edmunds, Darrell Fisher