OXFORD United missed another chance to close in on the Sky Bet League One play-offs with a 1-0 defeat at struggling Northampton Town.

The 11th-placed U’s knew a win would see them end the evening at least seventh, but Sam Hoskins’ second-half strike proved the difference at the PTS Academy Stadium.

It is a second loss in four days for United, whose best opportunity came when Rob Atkinson had a fifth-minute effort blocked on the line.

The U’s remain three points off the top six, but they will be frustrated not to have taken anything from a side who began the evening in the relegation zone.

There were several surprises in Karl Robinson’s line-up, as the U’s boss made five changes as he opted for a variant of 4-2-3-1.

Anthony Forde was deployed as an attacking right back in place of Jamie Hanson, while Joe Grayson made his first league start in a midfield two alongside Alex Gorrin.

In attack, Mide Shodipo came in for Brandon Barker on the left and Sam Winnall was preferred to Matty Taylor as the central striker, with Dan Agyei replacing Mark Sykes as a narrow right-sided forward.

Cameron Brannagan pushed high up when United had possession to give the visitors a four-man front line and they forced a series of set-pieces in the opening quarter.

Most of them found Atkinson and the centre back volleyed Grayson’s early corner towards goal, only for Ryan Watson and goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell to stop the ball on the line.

The U’s defender saw another effort blocked by Lloyd Jones and headed wide from eight yards shortly after, but the hosts grew into the game.

They could have gone ahead when Danny Rose was left unmarked at the back post midway through the half, only for Winnall to make the crucial block.

Northampton were particularly dangerous on the break and one such attack saw Hoskins fire a low cross into the six-yard box.

Jack Stevens got himself in a tangle and could only steer the ball towards Mark Marshall 12 yards out, but the winger saw his scuffed shot come back off the post and Watson was unable to follow-up.

Mitchell pushed Agyei’s curling effort past the post after the half-hour mark, before another dangerous Marshall cross did not get the finishing touch it deserved.

After that rush of activity the action died down before the break, but the contest became frenetic again when the teams re-emerged.

It was closely-fought, so United will be kicking themselves at how soft the winning goal was.

After Stevens shanked a clearance out of play, the hosts worked the ball well from the throw and Hoskins ran unchallenged to meet Rose’s through ball and finish into the far corner.

The hosts had their tails up and Robinson, needing to change something, brought on Sykes, Hanson and Barker for Winnall, Gorrin and Grayson 20 minutes into the half.

It saw Agyei move into the lone striker’s role with Shodipo, Sykes and Barker behind him, while Hanson and Brannagan were the deeper midfield two.

The substitutions did not signal an improvement as United struggled to threaten their opponents’ goal, while Fraser Horsfall headed just past the far post at the other end.

Taylor came on for Shodipo with 12 minutes left, before Ruffels volleyed the U’s clearest opportunity of the half well over when he met Forde’s cross at the back post.

Northampton were fighting for their lives as they sought the win that would lift them out of the bottom four, but Mitchell briefly stopped Cobblers’ hearts as he spilled Brannagan’s late effort over the crossbar.

However, the hosts held on for a result that is as valuable to them as it is damaging to United.

Northampton Town (4-2-3-1): Mitchell, Kioso, Jones, Horsfall, Mills, Morris, McWilliams, Hoskins, Watson, Marshall (Korboa 85), Rose (Ashley-Seal 88).

Unused subs: Harriman, Jones, Bolger, Edmondson, Berry.

Booked: Hoskins.

Oxford United (4-2-3-1): Stevens, Forde, Moore, Atkinson, Ruffels, Grayson (Hanson 65), Gorrin (Sykes 65), Agyei, Brannagan, Shodipo (Taylor 77), Winnall (Barker 65).

Unused subs: Eastwood, Kelly, Hall.

Booked: None.

Referee: Christopher Pollard (Suffolk).