Oxford United 1, Wrexham 4

By Jon Murray HAVING to make three changes in defence and losing a key midfielder caught up with Oxford United at the Manor on Saturday as they reverted to old by collapsing to another heavy home defeat.

Looking at times very disjointed, the U's paid the price for committing some terrible blunders.

They handed Wrexham a two-goal lead, fought back in a way that suggested they could force a draw or even snatch a dramatic win, but then threw away the initiative by gifting the Welsh club a decisive third goal.

What upset new manager Denis Smith more than anything, however, was the way heads went down at the end and the self-discipline of several players disappeared.

Giving up the ghost and allowing opponents to score an easy fourth goal is the stuff of teams heading for relegation - and Smith is not having that.

It was a strange kind of game because at times, United played some good football, especially just after going 2-0 down when they looked capable of pulling it out of the fire. But they missed the recent assurance of Steve Davis and Phil Whelan, who were suspended, and the midfield was not the same without Paul Tait, who failed a late test on a leg injury. They made a bright start to the first half, attacking up the slope, and Steve Anthrobus, playing unusually on the left wing, sent over two good crosses.

But Wrexham, who had lost their previous three matches, punished them at a corner and United were forever playing catch-up after that.

The opening goal came in the 15th minute, a short corner played by Darren Ferguson to Paul Barrett who was clattered by Anthrobus just after delivering his right-wing cross.

Oxford's defence stood like statues and Karl Connolly, not picked up by Simon Weatherstone, headed in. Had the ball not gone into the net, the ref might have decided Anthrobus's foul merited a penalty. Wrexham lost Barrett and Deryn Brace through injury but still looked the more cohesive unit. Weatherstone's inexperience at right back sometimes showed, while on the other side, Anthrobus could do little right.

Losing confidence after giving the ball away and hearing the fans on his back, the big man simply didn't know what to do and looked forlorn. Once, when Paul Powell brilliantly dribbled past three players, Anthrobus not only failed to support him but seemed to have no idea where he should run.

Thankfully for United, Powell was just as impressive at the back as he was going forward, and he produced two magnificent tackles to prevent the visitors adding to their lead.

United were given a great opportunity to equalise when their former on-loan goalkeeper Kevin Dearden was penalised for handball as he threw the ball out from the edge of his area. The free-kick was dead central, but when Joey Beauchamp backheeled it, Peter Fear failed to get over the shot and it was deflected over the bar. New signing Christian Edwards had been strong in the tackle and in the air, but Wrexham took advantage of more sloppy defending two minutes into the second half, Kevin Russell playing a through ball for Danny Allsopp to shoot impressively past Lundin.

For the next 25 minutes, United laid siege to the Wrexham goal but couldn't break through. Dearden saved point-blank from Nigel Jemson's header, Matt Murphy had a volley blocked, Beauchamp shot wide after Dearden dropped the ball under Anthrobus's challenge, and then the keeper fumbled a 20-yard shot from Beauchamp around his post.

But with 19 minutes to go United were back in it. Beauchamp's corner was flicked on by Jemson, and Edwards headed home for a debut goal. Smith brought on Derek Lilley for Craig Russell and Jamie Cook for Anthrobus and, with the crowd lifted by the goal, a storming fightback looked possible.

Sadly, they never got the chance. Edwards saw a clearance charged down by Allsopp and when the ball ran to Lundin, the keeper completely missed his kick and Allsopp was able to roll his shot into an empty goal.

Again the home side tried to rally and Jemson headed wide at a corner.

The final blow came two minutes from time as Ferguson played a one-two with Allsopp and finished in style, leaving United looking a sorry sight.

Story date: Monday 28 February

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