First-half goals from Tyler Goodrham and debutant Matt Phillips were enough for Oxford to progress to the second round of the Carabao Cup this evening as they once again overcame a thoroughly decent Peterborough side at the Kassam Stadium.
United made eight changes to the side that beat Norwich City on Saturday, with just Sam Long (wearing the skipper's armband), Goodrham and Rúben Rodrigues making their second appearances of the fledgling season.
This meant first starts for Peter Kioso, Jordan Thorniley and Greg Leigh in defence; Josh McEachran and Idris El Mizouni in midfield; and Phillips on the opposite flank to Goodrham.
Peterborough's main threat came down the left in the diminutive shape of Abraham Odoh, and it was the winger who cut inside to force a diving save from Ingram. Two minutes later, Phillips showed some exceptional control to bring down a long ball, make space on the right and cross left footed, the ball swinging inches wide of the far post.
Goodrham was the next to try his luck, using Rodrigues's run to cut inside and swing in a shot that Bilokapić did exceptionally well to touch wide. A minute later it was Goodrham who gave United the lead as he chased down an underhit backpass, robbed Bilokapić and tapped the ball into the empty net.
Oxford went close to extending the lead midway through the first half when Goodrham received a wonderful flicked pass from El Mizouni and, as usual with Goodrham, something good occurred, this time it was his low driven cross that Oscar Wallin diverted over his own bar.
Long was United's hero after half an hour when he did well to block Odoh's goalbound shot as Posh looked to get back into the game. Those hopes took a nosedive five minutes before the interval when the U's scored a second goal with a well-worked move. Sibley was the creator as he wove into the area and sent in a wonderful low cross that left Phillips with the simple task of placing the ball into the empty net for a debut goal.
Phillips' replacement at half-time was another debutant, Malcolm Ebiowei, and he immediately showed what he could offer with some smart touches on the right wing, and one dangerous cross that Wallin had to divert for a corner.
Both teams made several changes on the hour, resulting in a drop in momentum but it was Oxford that came back stronger. A Cameron Brannagan free kick was headed wide for a corner, from which Ebiowei drove past Odoh down the byline and forced another corner, and shortly after, Malcolm was free in the middle but couldn't find the target.
United continued to press and a driving run by Sibley led to Brannagan's shot being cleared off the line. Sibley was again a nuisance to the Posh defence as he tried to work a shooting opportunity, while Ingram was Oxford's hero a minute later as Malik Mothersille bore down on goal before being halted by Ingram's outstretched hand.
A third win over Peterborough in four recent meetings, this one taking the U's into the second round of the Carabao Cup in two weeks, the draw for which will be held tomorrow after Wednesday's live televised game. A first tentative step to possible future glory? Let's wait and see. Meanwhile, get yourselves up to Coventry on Friday for the Yellows' first away game of the season.
United: Ingram, Kioso, Long (Moore 60), Thorniley, Leigh, McEachran (Vaulks 86), El Mizouni, Sibley, Goodrham (Brannagan 60), Rodrigues (O'Donkor 60), Phillips (Ebiowei 46)
Unused subs: Eastwood, Brown, Vaulks, Currie, Golding
Attendance: 3,693, including 408 away
Fifty/50 draw: ticket no. 143865 wins £305
Report: Martin Brodetsky; Photographers: JasonPix, Steve Daniels, Steve Edmunds, Darrell Fisher
Peterborough
