OXFORD United survived a nervy last quarter of an hour to beat Burton Albion and make it three wins in a row.

Cameron Brannagan put the U’s ahead three minutes after the restart with his sixth goal of the season, before Kyle Joseph increased the lead midway through the second half.

But Victor Adeboyejo pulled one back in the 77th minute to make United sweat in the closing stages.

The U’s held on, though – despite Joe Powell hitting the crossbar from a free-kick – to claim back-to-back Sky Bet League One wins for the first time this season and climb to 11th in the table.

United’s injury woes continued as Matty Taylor and Steve Seddon missed out with groin and ankle issues respectively, although Marcus Browne returned to the bench.

Karl Robinson made three changes as a result, with 17-year-old striker Gatlin O’Donkor handed his first league start.

Ciaron Brown returned to the XI at left wing back with Billy Bodin suspended following his red card at Cheltenham Town last Saturday, while Simon Eastwood replaced Ed McGinty in goal.

Burton made one change, as Davis Keillor-Dunn came in to the starting XI following top-scorer Gassan Ahadme’s deadline-day move to Ipswich Town.

O’Donkor burst down the left in the first minute as he and United started brightly, but the pattern of the half soon became clear.

Burton wing back Tom Hamer was happy to take his time over long throws from the kick-off, which soon drew the ire of U’s fans.

Brannagan saw a volley pushed away by Vijami Sinisalo early on, but it was the highlight of a drab opening 20 minutes.

Sam Long injected some urgency midway through the half with a driving run and he played in Joseph, who saw his effort from a tight angle saved.

James Henry then cut in from right wing back and curled into the side-netting, before Brewers centre back Sam Hughes fired a first-time volley just wide from Terry Taylor’s corner.

The game settled down again after the brief flurry of chances, with Joseph seeing a shot deflected over the crossbar after a goalmouth scramble.

O’Donkor battled well against the Burton centre backs and drew plenty of fouls, although the decisions did not always go his way as United fans turned their frustrations on referee Robert Madden.

The official left the pitch to boos at the break, particularly after only adding one minute of stoppage-time after a half of interruptions.

The home supporters’ mood soon improved, though, as United’s main man opened the scoring three minutes after the restart.

Joseph’s shot was deflected over Sinisalo and onto the crossbar and Brannagan was quickest to the rebound, taking a touch and firing high into the net from six yards.

Powell and Hughes sent half-chances over the crossbar on the volley, before Browne made his return in place of O’Donkor just before the hour mark.

The forward drew fouls from Hughes and John Brayford within minutes of coming on, earning both players bookings.

Burton were asking questions of the home defence so United needed breathing space - and Joseph provided it with 19 minutes left.

Henry headed the ball in behind for the Swansea City loanee to chase and he kept his cool, slotting the ball through Sinisalo’s legs for his third of the season.

A flurry of changes followed as Tyler Goodrham replaced Lewis Bate, while Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink made three substitutions. It was one of his starters, though, that halved the deficit.

Long thought he had won a free-kick when Adeboyejo barged him over to reach the ball, but Madden waved play on and the striker advanced into the box and curled beyond Eastwood.

United were suddenly living dangerously and Powell struck the crossbar with a free-kick from 25 yards, while a mix-up between Eastwood and Mousinho ended with the goalkeeper slicing the ball out of play.

James Golding and Slavi Spasov replaced Stuart Findlay and Joseph just before the contest entered seven minutes of stoppage-time, with the U’s holding out for victory.

Oxford United (3-5-2): Eastwood, Long, Mousinho, Findlay (Golding 88), Henry, Bate (Goodrham 73), McGuane, Brannagan, Brown, O’Donkor (Browne 57), Joseph (Spasov 89).

Unused subs: McGinty, Gorrin, Jones.

Booked: Findlay.

Burton Albion (3-4-1-2): Sinisalo, Hughes, Brayford (Onyango 74), Oshilaja, Hamer, Taylor, Butcher (Thorpe 74), Borthwick-Jackson, Powell, Adeboyejo, Keillor-Dunn (Lakin 76).

Unused subs: Garratt, Gilligan, Delap, Scott.

Booked: Hughes, Brayford.

Referee: Robert Madden (East Kilbride).

Attendance: 7,560 (141 visitors).