Oxford Utd 0, Wolves 2 OXFORD United lost at home to Wolves for the first time and felt they were very hard done by on Saturday.

Steve Bull plundered his first-ever goal at the Manor Ground on the stroke of half-time with a hotly-disputed effort after a robust challenge on Phil Whitehead.

United's goalkeeper dropped the ball as Bull clattered into him and while everyone gazed at York referee Matt Messias to see if he would blow for a free-kick, Bull tapped the loose ball into the empty net with Les Robinson tryting desperately to get back and clear.

The Oxford players protested strongly about what they felt was a clear foul on the keeper. It was the sort of challenge Nat Lofthouse used to get away with, shoulder-charging keepers over the goalline for fun, but in modern-day football they are seldom allowed.

Less than a minute later, the ref showed a distinct lack of consistency, and infuriated the home fans, by then blowing up for an identical challenge on the Wolves keeper Mike Stowell by Matt Murphy at a corner. Attacking downhill in the first half, United enjoyed as much of the ball as their opponents but their crosses, particularly from the right, were poor, and when they did work the ball into the box, they were infuriatingly shot-shy.

Manager Malcolm Shotton decided to try record signing Dean Windass as an attacker just behind Murphy, but it meant United lacked the quality of passing from midfield which had made them look quite exciting at Bristol City.

Wolves also defended well, denying Oxford's players space and doubling up on Joey Beauchamp, who destroyed them last season.

The visitors carved out two early chances and Robbie Keane, subject of a reported £3m bid from Arsenal in the week, chipped over the bar after a break from the lively Steve Froggatt.

Martin Gray forced a good save from Stowell with a 25-yard drive but it took the U's 33 minutes to work a clear scoring chance. It came when they got an indirect free-kick 14 yards out after Kevin Muscat raised his foot dangerously to clear from Nicky Banger. Beauchamp touched the free-kick to his right and Windass cheekily tried a chip over the massive wall, but it floated just over.

Phil Gilchrist and Steve Davis, in particular, were defending well, with Davis well on top in his personal duel with Bull.

At the other end, though, when David Smith and Les Robinson sent over a series of ineffective crosses, home fans were left wishing Kevin Francis could climb down from his seat in the Beech Road to spruce up their attack.

Gray hobbled off with a dead leg and Shotton took the opportunity to drop Windass back into midfield which gave United better balance. Only a vital interception from Simon Osborn denied Beauchamp a shot from the edge of the box after one-twos with Windass and substitute Simon Weatherstone.

But with Keane starting to show his qualities, Wolves began to look menacing.

Whitehead made a superb close-range save from Froggatt and alertly saved at Keane's feet as he set himself to shoot.

Whitehead, aggrieved at Bull's goal, was clearly determined to prove a point and he then pulled off an outstanding point-blank save from Keane's header.

A series of fouls prevented the game from developing any flow and the ref got carried away with a ludicrous version of nine-card brag. Yet at the same time, United's players lost their discipline, constantly arguing and disputing decisions, and Robinson and Gilchrist were booked for dissent when Wolves were awarded a penalty with 11 minutes to go.

Keane burst through the inside left channel and Davis appeared to pull him back. The ref pointed to the spot but Whitehead flung himself to his right to make a brilliant save.

Inexcusably, though, with the ball bobbling around on the edge of the box, United's defenders dithered and dallied rather than clear. Osborn's return shot was deflected, hit the inside of the post, then trickled over the line.

Beauchamp went close with a late free-kick, but the U's great home record against Wolves was over.

And when the rubble of nine second-half bookings was being cleared, they were left to explain to their manager how they finished with six.

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