OXFORD United’s search for an elusive first away win of the season goes on after the U’s suffered a one-goal defeat at Watford.

Vakoun Bayo scored the only goal of the game nine minutes into the second half, tucking away the rebound after seeing an initial effort saved.

Des Buckingham made three changes to the side which beat Hull City on Tuesday night, as Sam Long, Peter Kioso and Ruben Rodrigues came in for the injured Ben Nelson, Hidde ter Avest and Idris El Mizouni respectively.

The opening 20 minutes were relatively short on goalmouth action, with Greg Leigh firing a 20-yard shot over in the opening stages.

The first half burst into life at its midway point, beginning with a penalty call turned down for United.

James Morris tugged on the shirt of Rodrigues as the Portuguese midfielder scrapped his way into the box, but there was arguably not enough contact to warrant the awarding of a spot kick.

A rapid counter-attack from the Hornets then saw Bayo look to charge through onto a loose touch, but Jamie Cumming was out quickly to pounce on the ball.

Tyler Goodrham then had a go with an ambitious 25-yard strike left of centre, but his low right-footed effort never really troubled Daniel Bachmann in the Watford goal.

With eight minutes to go until the break, a lovely move from the U’s saw Rodrigues slide Kioso into the area, and the wing back then played a ball across the face of goal, however Dane Scarlett was unable to stretch enough to apply the finish.

Edo Kayembe looked a class act in midfield for the Hornets, and he demonstrated that well when he dummied Goodrham and then shot from 25 yards, but the effort flew off target.

There was a huge let-off for United when a sloppy ball out from Cumming aimed to the feet of Josh McEachran was intercepted by Kayembe, however the midfielder took a heavy touch which then allowed Cumming to atone for his mistake by charging out and sweeping up.

As three minutes were added on, a first-time volley from Imran Louza was deflected off Elliott Moore for a corner.

Giorgi Chakvetadze swung the set piece in, and Ciaron Brown had to be alert to head the ball clear from underneath his own crossbar.

The Hornets almost created an opening within the first 60 seconds of the second half, as Louza had time to play a searching ball from deep for Festy Ebosele, who was seemingly in front of Kioso, but the U’s defender recovered extremely well and did enough to put off Ebosele.

Watford did take the lead though nine minutes into the second period. Kwado Baah crossed for Bayo, who was denied well by Cumming, but the rebound fell kindly for the striker, who forced another stop out of Cumming, however this time the ball squirmed into the back of the net.

Buckingham made a double switch just before the hour mark, introducing El Mizouni and Mark Harris for McEachran and Scarlett respectively.

The Hornets were in control though and looking for a second goal, and after a spot of head tennis in the United box, Ryan Porteous nodded over.

Tuesday night’s hero against the Tigers, ter Avest, replaced Kioso with 68 minutes on the clock, as Buckingham again looked to freshen things up.

Dutchman ter Avest was involved straight away, looking to pounce on a loose ball with a poked effort from close range, but Bachmann was able to hold onto the ball.

Chakvetadze was then invited to bring the ball forward and his effort from 25 yards was pushed over by Cumming.

More heroics came from Cumming when Yasser Larouci crossed for Bayo, whose first-time strike was denied by the feet of Cumming.

Buckingham rolled his dice again with five minutes to go, introducing Will Goodwin for Rodrigues, as the former partnered Harris up front in a 3-5-2 set-up.

Goodrham won a free kick on the byline and on the right-hand edge of the penalty box with two minutes to go, and from the set piece, the ball fell to Harris, who had a lot to do with his back to goal, and he sent a close-range effort just over.

Five minutes were added on, and deep into them, Moore had a header deflect out for a corner, but the set piece came to nothing, as the U’s saw their search for a first away win go on for at least one more game.

Watford (3-4-3): Bachmann; Porteous, Pollock, Morris; Andrews, Louza (Ince 90+2), Kayembe (Dwomoh 77), Ebosele (Larouci 65); Baah (Vata 65), Bayo (Jebbison 90+2), Chakvetadze.

Unused subs: Bond, Sema, Tikvic, Doumbia.

Booked: Porteous, Baah, Ebosele, Bayo, Morris.

Oxford United (3-4-2-1): Cumming; Long, Moore, Brown; Kioso (ter Avest 68), Vaulks, McEachran (El Mizouni 58), Leigh; Rodrigues (Goodwin 85), Goodrham; Scarlett (Harris 58).

Unused subs: Ingram, Golding, Dale, Ebiowei, Ferdinan.

Booked: McEachran, Moore.

Referee: Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria)

Attendance: 20,268 (TBC away)