Oxford United made it three wins from three home games this season thanks to Idris El Mizouni's first goal for the club at the start of the second half, as Stoke City still wait for their first win in Oxford.
United made four changes to the side that beat Preston North End a fortnight ago, with skipper Elliott Moore fit again after injury to resume his place in the centre of defence, Sam Long dropping to the bench, and Greg Leigh made his first league start of the season at left back following the injury to Joe Bennett last time out. Idris El Mizouni replaced Rúben Rodrigues in midfield, while Siriki Dembélé starts for the first time after he replaced Matt Phillips in the Preston game.
After both teams spent the opening ten minutes sounding each other out, it was the U's with the first shot in anger as Mark Harris, seeking to score his fifth goal in five games, tried his luck from 25 yards. It was a decent effort, but Viktor Johansson was right behind it and the game remained goalless.
The game almost burst into life in the 38th minute, when a Greg Leigh header allowed Harris and to set Dembélé free. He charged down the left and into the area and, with Harris and Tyler Goodrham waiting for the cross, the ball across goal went behind them both and the chance was gone.
The first half ended with a blow to the Yellows as Cameron Brannagan was forced off injured and, rather than risk making it worse, United replaced him with Rodrigues.
If the first period had been a slow burner, the second started like a train, with United taking the lead just three minutes in. Good work on the right ended with Rodrigues wriggling free and pulling the ball back for El Mizouni to steer the ball home from 18 yards to register his first goal for the club.
With United on the front foot and the crowd up for it, Oxford started to take control, with the Stoke having problems against the pace and trickery of the U's front line. Harris came close to getting on the scoresheet when he was set free but Johansson was equal to his shot, and Peter Kioso played in Rodrigues round the back but his cross was cut out just before it reached Harris.
Oxford remained happy to soak up Stoke pressure and look to profit on the break, which they almost did when Dembélé and Harris combined to get the ball to Goodrham, whose shot was parried by Johansson and from the resulting corner El Mizouni's shot was blocked. From the next corner the ball was headed back across goal and Kioso scooped it over from the edge of the six-yard box.
Another break saw Harris lay the ball off for substitute Malcolm Ebiowei, who made space for a shot but couldn't place it wide of Johansson.
This was another good performance from the Yellows, who have once again shown fight and composure as they prove once more that they can not just compete but win in the Championship.
Next up, United travel to Bristol City looking for their first win on the road. See you there.
UNITED: Cumming, Brown, Moore, McEachran (Vaulks 75), Brannagan (Rodrigues 45+2), Harris, El Mizouni, Goodrham, Leigh, Dembélé (Ebiowei 82), Kioso
Unused Subs: Ingram, Long, Sibley, Nelson, Dale, Scarlett
Attendance: 11,507 including 1,441 away
Fifty/50 draw: £1,225 was won by ticket number 148692
Match report: Martin Brodetsky; Photos: JasonPix
