OXFORD United’s miserable record against Fleetwood Town was extended after two late goals earned the points for the hosts at Highbury.

Playing into the strong breeze in the first half, the visitors were in charge and only a superb save from Alex Cairns prevented Wes Thomas from giving them a deserved lead.

But United never regained the same control after the restart as Fleetwood came back into the game.

Stout defending appeared to have done enough to earn a point, but two minutes from time a lapse in concentration allowed Bobby Grant time in the penalty area to break the deadlock.

And with United pressing forward for an equaliser, they were caught out on the break in the final seconds, when Josh Ruffels turned substitute Jordy Hiwula's scuffed shot into his own net.

It sealed a sixth defeat for United in seven meetings with the Cod Army.

The visitors’ two changes from the 3-3 draw with Rotherham United a week earlier were at full back.

Christian Ribeiro, fit again after a hip problem, replaced Canice Carroll, while Dwight Tiendalli played at left back after Ricardinho picked up a calf strain.

A week on from Storm Brian, conditions were no easier on the Lancashire coast.

A blustery wind blew down the exposed Highbury pitch, which seemed to affect the hosts more than United.

Playing with the elements at their back, the Cod Army struggled to build pressure before half-time as a host of balls into the channels ran through to Simon Eastwood.

United’s more patient approach saw them dominate possession and for the most part they used it well.

The exception before the break came in the fifth minute, when John Mousinho passed straight to Conor McAleny.

United’s fans behind the goal needed no reminder of what the forward, who scored ten goals on loan for them last season, could do, but Mousinho recovered well to deflect the shot for a corner.

It took time for the visitors’ composed style to make any headway in the Town half, but midway through the half they began to threaten.

The one clear chance at either end before the interval came via an incisive pass from Alex Mowatt. He found Thomas, who survived claims of handball to bear down on goal, where his clipped finish was denied by a one-handed save from Cairns.

It was a terrific save and the goalkeeper just got enough on the ball to divert it for a corner, which eventually led to Curtis Nelson having a looping header saved.

United spent most of the next 20 minutes making Town chase the ball, prompting manager Uwe Rosler to tweak his formation.

George Glendon sat deeper in a bid to smother Jack Payne, while McAleny was pushed forward alongside Devante Cole.

Regardless, the visitors stayed in charge.

Tiendalli almost unlocked the defence on the half-hour mark, flicking the ball to Mowatt and receiving the return pass before going down in the area. Referee Trevor Kettle waved away the U’s half-hearted appeals for a penalty.

United will have had the happier changing room at half-time, but just as with last week’s clash against Rotherham, it was clear playing into the wind was less challenging than the alternative.

Fleetwood came back into the game and a minute after the restart Grant found the roof of the net with a shot from near the touchline.

Eastwood was forced into his first save of the afternoon just after the hour mark, turning Cole’s snap shot from the edge of the box round his near post.

Aside from a couple of corners, United were unable to turn their possession into chances as they struggled to control forward passes with the wind.

It took some excellent defending at the other end to keep the game goalless.

McAleny looked poised to haunt his former side 17 minutes from time when he jinked into the penalty area, but Ribeiro was on hand to make a superb block.

Curtis Nelson and John Mousinho also put their bodies on the line, but Fleetwood broke through with two minutes remaining.

Grant’s corner was headed back to the midfielder and with no-one in yellow closing him down, he had time to thread a low shot into the far corner.

And with United throwing everything forward in search of an equaliser, the Cod Army broke in stoppage-time to seal the result with a second goal.

Hunter got the better of Mousinho out wide and when Grant squared for Hiwula the substitute's shot appeared to be going wide, but ricocheted into the net off the backtracking Ruffels.

Fleetwood Tn (3-5-2): Cairns, Cargill, Bolger, Eastham, Bell, Dempsey, Grant, Glendon (O’Neill 90), Coyle, McAleny (Hunter 76), Cole (Hiwula 76).

Unused subs: Neal, Pond, Burns, Schwabl.

Booked: None.

Oxford Utd (4-4-1-1): Eastwood, Ribeiro, Nelson, Mousinho, Tiendalli, Henry, Ledson, Ruffels, Mowatt (Rothwell 76), Payne (Obika 82), Thomas.

Unused subs: Shearer, Williamson, Martin, Xemi, Hall.

Booked: None.

Referee: Trevor Kettle (Leicestershire).

Attendance: 3,261 (609 visitors).