Ramon Diaz's honeymoon period as Oxford United manager was shattered by basement boys Kidderminster yesterday.

A goal in each half from Blair Sturrock and Simon Russell sent the U's to their first defeat under Diaz - and the biggest Kassam Stadium crowd of the season certainly made their feelings known.

Cries of what a load of rubbish rang around the ground at the final whistle, while Leo Roget and David Woozley were booed throughout the second half by sections of the Oxford Mail stand after woeful performances.

Although the U's huffed and puffed throughout, they lacked any sort of cutting edge in attack, and only Chris Hackett looked like cutting open a stubborn Kidderminster defence.

With leading scorer Tommy Mooney suspended, Rob Wolleaston was recalled to the midfield, with Lee Bradbury moved into attack.

Goalkeeper Bradie Clarke paid the penalty for two mistakes against Rushden on Boxing Day by being dropped to the bench, with Chris Tardif back between the sticks.

Things started so well for United, with Craig Davies racing down the right wing, and from his cross, Jamie Brooks shot wide at the far post when he should have scored.

Brooks was then denied by a last-ditch tackle from Simon Weaver, and full back Dave Mackay was inches away from opening his account for Oxford with a curling left-foot effort that flew inches over the bar.

Kidderminster offered little attacking threat, and the closest they came to scoring was when Woozley sliced his attempted clearance and Tardif had to push the ball behind for a corner.

Davies and Hackett both saw good chances go begging, before Hackett chose the wrong option when breaking clear and the chance was lost.

Ironic cheers sounded when Oxford were awarded their first free-kick in the 35th minute, but two minutes later, they were behind.

Woozley dwelt on a long ball forward, and Blair Sturrock nipped in.

Sturrock checked his run, allowing the Oxford defence to get back, but then executed a perfect chip over Tardif to the delight of the 292 visiting fans.

Oxford were shell-shocked, and their frustration was summed up when Bradbury back-heeled a free-kick for Matt Robinson to shoot, only for Lee Jenkins to clear before Robinson had started his run.

Diaz replaced Brooks with Danny Morgan at half-time, with the replacement going into attack and Bradbury moving to the left side of midfield.

It was nearly immediately paid off. Straight from the kick-off, Barry Quinn's long ball forward was flicked on by Morgan, Bradbury played the ball back to the substitute, and Morgan's shot was deflected behind for a corner.

Although not under pressure, the Oxford defence was often all at sea, and when Robinson's clearance thumped against Woozley, it fell nicely for Russell, who turned sharply to fire home.

United pushed forward, desperately searching for a way back into the game, but Kidderminster's defence stood firm.

The only clear chances the U's had were from Hackett's corners, with Roget guilty of three bad misses, the last a free header six yards out.

But supporters knew by now that defeat was inevitable, and by the final whistle, less than a third of the crowd was left in the stadium.