OXFORD United suffered back-to-back league defeats for the first time this season as Wycombe Wanderers produced a professional performance at Adams Park.

The U’s were riding the wave of this week’s stadium news and had a sold-out away end behind them, but the hosts struck in each half to move top of Sky Bet League One.

Nathan Holland saw an early effort cleared off the line as United started brightly, only for Wycombe to take control and Curtis Thompson volleyed home their 33rd-minute opener.

Brandon Hanlan made it 2-0 on the counter-attack after an hour and the Chairboys were streetwise enough to see the game out, despite the U’s having the majority of possession.

It meant a week that has been all about United’s bright future ended with them falling out of the top six, while they are yet to win in 2022.

United’s team news was all good news, with Cameron Brannagan and Jordan Thorniley passed fit to play.

The latter replaced Luke McNally in the starting XI, while Marcus McGuane came in for the suspended Herbie Kane in holding midfield.

Holland was preferred to Gavin Whyte in the front three and Sam Long made his 150th appearance for his boyhood club.

Meanwhile, Wycombe’s attack was supposedly blunted by the loss of top-scorer Sam Vokes to a suspected positive Covid test, Thompson replacing him.

Derby or not, United’s fans made a terrific noise in the build-up to kick-off and a crackling atmosphere contributed to a frantic start.

Neither side truly controlled the contest early on, but Wycombe had the first sight of goal when Hanlan hooked Garath McCleary’s cross into the away end after eight minutes.

United quickly responded as Matty Taylor tried to catch out David Stockdale from a tight angle, with the Chairboys goalkeeper pushing the shot up and away.

The U’s began to get on top, with Holland their main threat, and the winger went close to opening the scoring 20 minutes in.

Mark Sykes launched a counter-attack, playing in Ryan Williams down the right, and the Australian just reached the ball at the byline.

Stockdale was out of position as Holland prepared to shoot, but Wycombe centre back Anthony Stewart saved his side with a block on the line.

The winger tested Stockdale twice more in quick succession, the stopper pushing behind a shot from range and then standing up to beat away Holland’s effort from a tight angle.

United had kept Wycombe at arm’s length for the first 25 minutes, but the hosts grew into the game as McCleary and ex-U’s man Jordan Obita, who was getting plenty of stick from the away section, threatened down the left.

The U’s dealt with the crosses, only to concede from the Chairboys’ first corner.

Simon Eastwood did not reach McCleary’s set-piece under pressure from Hanlan and Thorniley could only head as far as Thompson, who found the far corner from the edge of the penalty area.

The momentum had shifted and United got away with one just before the break, Anis Mehmeti miscuing when McCleary found him unmarked ten yards out.

Elliott Moore headed straight at Stockdale early in the second half, but Wycombe really should have doubled the lead shortly after.

Mehmeti was too strong in the tackle and found McCleary unmarked to his left, only for the Oxford-born forward to shoot straight at Eastwood.

The goalkeeper was then brave to dive at Mehmeti’s feet as the midfielder tried to get a bouncing ball under control, with Obita putting the loose ball into the side-netting.

United began to threaten as the hour mark approached, only for Wycombe to hit them with a sucker-punch.

Sykes’ shot was charged down and the hosts counter-attacked, with McCleary allowed to break into space. He found Hanlan to his right and the striker took his time before shooting under Eastwood.

The home fans were jubilant, but one took it way too far as he invaded the pitch with the away end in his sights.

Steve Seddon tried to halt the ‘supporter’, but he broke free and was eventually hauled down by a group of stewards.

Karl Robinson responded with all three substitutes in quick succession: James Henry, Whyte and Sam Winnall replaced McGuane, Williams and Holland.

Brannagan had already moved into the holding role and remained there as United switched to a 4-4-2 diamond, with Henry and Sykes in front of him.

The U’s looked more likely to score in the new system and both Winnall and Henry shot off target from the edge of the box.

Meanwhile, Wycombe sought to break the game up by bringing on David Wheeler and Daryl Horgan for Thompson and Mehmeti.

United continued to push, but could not create the chances to match their possession and a Winnall header that went wide was the closest they came late on.

Wycombe Wanderers (3-4-1-2): Stockdale, Stewart, Tafazolli, Jacobson, Grimmer, Thompson (Wheeler 74), Scowen, Obita, McCleary, Mehmeti (Horgan 77), Hanlan.

Unused subs: Przybek, McCarthy, Al-Hamadi, Akinfenwa.

Booked: Hanlan, McCleary.

Oxford United (4-3-3): Eastwood, Long, Moore, Thorniley, Seddon, Sykes, McGuane (Henry 68), Brannagan, Williams (Whyte 68), Taylor, Holland (Winnall 71).

Unused subs: Stevens, Forde, McNally, Bodin.

Booked: Brannagan, Sykes.

Referee: Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).

Attendance: 8,005 (Visitors TBC).