Oxford United's search for their first away win continues after they lost 1-0 at Watford thanks to Vakoun Bayo's close-range finish after 54 minutes. The U's matched the home side, still unbeaten at Vicarage Road, for much of the game, but were again left frustrated on the road by fine margins.
United made three changes to the side that beat Hull City on Tuesday, with Ben Nelson's enforced absence seeing him replaced by Sam Long, Peter Kioso came in for goalscorer Hidde ter Avest, and Rúben Rodrigues replaced Idris El Mizouni.
The game got off to a frantic start, with United having the initial pressure, culminating in a Greg Leigh shot that went high and wide in just the fifth minute. In the 12th minute Oxford won the first corner of the match, although it came to nothing, while Will Vaulks's long throws caused the Watford defence some concern. When Watford did get on the front foot, United defended stoutly and the home side failed to trouble Jamie Cumming until 25 minutes in, when he had to get down to keep out Bayo's run on goal.
United's best chance of the first half came following an exchange of passes between Rodrigues and Kioso, with the latter's cross inches away from Dane Scarlett's outstretched leg. However, Oxford almost caused their own downfall three minutes before the break when Cumming's pass to McEachran was intercepted by Festy Ebosele, but the goalkeeper redeemed himself, coming out to clear the ball away.
The game had just entered first-half stoppage time when a Watford corner hit the top of the bar before bouncing to safety, but the U's saw out the game until the break and would have been the happier side going down the tunnel.
The second half began with Ebosele having a free run at goal but it was Kioso to the rescue with a perfectly timed tackle to prevent the shot. The home side were certainly more threatening after the break and started to show why they have such good form at home, although too often the final ball let them down.
In the 54th minute Watford made the breakthrough as Bayo got on the end of Kwadwo Baah's low cross. His first effort was brilliantly kept out by Cumming, but the loose ball came back to Bayo and he made no mistake the second time, although Cumming again came close to keeping the ball out.
Watford had the bit between their teeth and they forced a succession of corners, leading to sustained pressure on the Oxford goal. However, United held firm and remained in the game and almost got an equaliser when substitute Hidde ter Avest reacted first to a loose ball in the home penalty area from a similar range to his goal on Tuesday, but this time Hornets' keeper Daniel Bachmann was in the right place to make the save.
Cumming was called into action with eight minutes to go when he kept out a shot from Bayo that seemed destined to hit the net. Minutes later Bachmann did well to keep out Mark Harris's shot from outside the area after he had been played through by Vaulks.
A late free kick, won by Goodrham by the byline on the edge of the area was headed back into the mix, where Harris chanced his luck with an overhead kick that cleared the bar from five yards, but it was a grandstand finish from the U's who were determined to get something from the game.
Unfortunately, their efforts didn't get the reward they deserved and United now have to wait 15 days before they next have a game, at home to Middlesbrough. Be there.
OXFORD UNITED: Cumming, Long, Brown, Vaulks, Moore, McEachran (El Mizouni 58), Goodrham, Rodrigues (Goodwin 85), Leigh, Kioso (ter Avest 68), Scarlett (Harris 58)
Unused subs: Ingram, Ebiowei, Dale, Ferdinan, Golding
Attendance: 20,268 including 2,057 magnificent away fans
Report: Martin Brodetsky; Photography: JasonPix, Steve Edmunds
