Oxford United fell to their heaviest defeat of the season this afternoon as they conceded six goals to a rampant Middlesbrough, despite taking the lead through Greg Leigh. Most of the damage was done by Emmanuel Latte Lath who scored a hat-trick, with Finn Azaz adding a further two to the total. Substitute Tommy Conway was also in on the act as Dane Scarlett's goal to make it 4-2 was of little consequence.
United made three changes to the side that started at Watford last time out, most notably the return of Cameron Brannagan, making his first appearance since 14 September, in place of Josh McEachran. Peter Kioso missed out after being taken ill while on duty for DR Congo, replaced by Hidde ter Avest, while Mark Harris was preferred over Tottenham loanee Scarlett. On the bench, there were returns from injury for Przemysław Płacheta and Matt Phillips.
It was the returning Brannagan with United's first effort, in the ninth minute, his long-range shot forcing Sol Brynn to push the ball around the post for a corner. Four minutes later Jamie Cumming made a superb reaction save to deny Latte Lath, somehow clawing the ball away from behind him as the driving rain made conditions difficult for defenders.
A United corner routine midway through the half led to another chance, Leigh's overhead kick keeping the ball alive for Long, whose header was turned over by Brynn. From that corner, Oxford took the lead as Elliott Moore headed the ball back across goal and Leigh was there to pounce on the loose ball and power it into the back of the net.
In the 35th minute Middlesbrough were awarded a penalty after Moore went in for a challenge with Ben Doak right on the byline. Latte Lath stepped up and sent Cumming the wrong way to level the scores.
The U's almost regained the lead when Rúben Rodrigues split the Boro defence to send Harris away, but Brynn was out quickly and got a vital touch to take the ball away from the Oxford striker.
A minute later and Boro turned the game around when Azaz beat Cumming from the edge of the area. It was 3-1 to the visitors moments after when Latte Lath was free in the penalty area, the offside flag wasn't raised and the Boro striker tapped the ball home for his second goal of the game.
The second half was barely a minute old when Latte Lath completed his hat-trick to take the game away from United, rifling home from inside the area.
The U's came close to pulling a goal back on the hour, when from a corner Brannagan fired in a shot that Brynn did superbly to push away.
Scarlett did pull a goal back in the 73rd minute, rifling home after being played through by Goodrham, to continue his good goalscoring form, but it was too little too late for the U's, despite them ending the game with some spirited attacking football.
Any hope that Oxford might have had of mounting an unlikely comeback were snuffed out ten minutes from time when Conway had time and space to pick his spot and make it five. Three minutes later and it was six when Azaz fired home from outside the box.
Before United's next home game, next Saturday against Millwall, they face a trip to Sheffield United, where they come up against former U's boss and Des Buckingham's mentor Chris Wilder.
UNITED: Cumming, Long, Brown, Vaulks (McEachran 73), Moore (Płacheta 53), Brannagan (El Mizouni 73), Harris (Scarlett 53), Goodrham, Rodrigues (Phillips 64), Leigh, ter Avest
Unused subs: Ingram, Dale, Goodwin, Ferdinan
Attendance: 11,442 (including 1,484 away)
Fifty/50 draw: Ticket number 14370 wins £1,348
Report: Martin Brodetsky; Photography: JasonPix, Steve Edmunds, Steve Daniels, Darrell Fisher
