Match Reports

Hatters slip to defeat at Oxford

Town lead twice but can't end away hoodoo at Kassam Stadium

ox report

The Hatters twice led but were left to reflect on yet another defeat away from home as Oxford came out on top at the Kassam Stadium.

Matt Bloomfield’s side were good value for 2-1 lead at half-time thanks to goals from Tom Krauß and Mark McGuinness.

However, the Town conceded twice in a 10-minute spell in the second half to swing the game in the home side’s favour.

Despite threatening to pull the score back to 3-3 the Hatters couldn’t find a leveller and avoid their 11th successive away defeat in the Championship to keep them in the relegation zone.

It was a rollercoaster of emotions on a night that started so well when Krauß fired the Town in front after 11 minutes.

McGuinness was the creator of the opener, poking the ball into the German’s path and he took one touch before blasting a well-struck shot into the top corner.

Back came Oxford and the home side were level 12 minutes later. The Hatters failed to clear a cross from the left and Michal Helik was first to the ball to poke a shot beyond Thomas Kaminski.

But the Hatters soon restored their lead. Three minutes after the equaliser, Jordan Clark’s fine free-kick was floated to the back-post towards McGuinness and the centre-half craned his neck to brilliantly power a header past Jamie Cumming in the U’s goal.

The Town then had Kaminski to thank on 30 minutes to deny a deflected effort from Siriki Dembele on 30 minutes and again moments later from a low shot from 20 yards.

As half-time approached the Hatters upped the ante and a series of eye-catching passing moves brought applause from the away end. Once such passage saw Elijah Adebayo go close on 40 minutes.

After the restart Zack Nelson fired over on 55 minutes and Krauß saw a shot blocked from the edge of the box three minutes later as the Town went in search of a third goal.

However, on 59 minutes, the home side were level when a right-wing corner was met by Ciaron Brown.

Bloomfield made a quadruple change shortly after the goal with Carlton Morris, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Jacob Brown and Alfie Doughty introduced.

But while the Town’s reaction to being pegged back was good they couldn’t make their possession count and on 69 minutes Oxford led for the first time. A right-wing cross found its way to Greg Leigh who had the freedom of the Hatters penalty to nod past an exposed Kaminski.

Behind, the Town rallied but as time ticked down chances were at a premium as the hosts protected their lead.

Six minutes were added at the end of the 90 but the Hatters couldn’t find an equaliser and were left to reflect on what might have been.

Town: Kaminski, Hashioka, Bell, McGuinness, Holmes, Nakamba, Krauß (sub Mpanzu 61), Clark (sub Woodrow 81), Jones (sub Brown 61), Nelson (sub Doughty 61), Adebayo (sub Morris 61).

Subs not used: Krul, Walters, Andersen, Walsh.

Attendance: 11,035, including 1,478 backing the Town in a sold-out away end.

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