Oxford United’s winless run against Fleetwood Town has extended to 12 games after the Cod Army saw off the U’s at Highbury.
A goal inside the opening minute from Callum Camps put the hosts in the lead before Paddy Madden added a second in the second half.
James Henry missed from the penalty spot with the U’s 1-0 down against a Fleetwood side that deserved all three points.
Your #oufc XI this afternoon: pic.twitter.com/mwqkdcUsR6
— Oxford Mail OUFC (@OxfordMailOUFC) October 31, 2020
Karl Robinson made one change from the side that lost at Charlton in the week with Liam Kelly coming in for Mark Sykes, with a slight change of formation.
Simon Eastwood started in goal behind a back four of Josh Ruffels, Sam Long, Elliott Moore and Sean Clare. Kelly partnered Alex Rodriguez Gorrin in a deeper role to provide additional support for the back four, with Anthony Forde just ahead.
Mide Shodipo and Henry were the wide men with Matty Taylor leading the line.
From the off, Fleetwood found an immediate opener. Wes Burns found space before finding Camps who lashed home a volley from 20-yards.
The Cod Army dominated in the opening ten minutes but the U’s were awarded the chance to level when Taylor was fouled in the box, but Henry saw his spot-kick saved by Jayson Leutwiler.
Ten minutes later, Eastwood was on hand to deny a second goal for Camps before the goalkeeper kept out Barry McKay’s free-kick.
Shodipo felt he should have been awarded a spot-kick but, at the other end, Oxford got away with an appeal when the ball struck Long’s hand.
Shodipo then tested Leutwiler from range before Henry struck wide as the U’s started to get into the game.
After the break, Oxford were unable to continue their first-half momentum. With sixteen minutes remaining, substitute Madden lashed home a second goal to kill off any chance of a U’s comeback.
Oxford’s substitutes were unable to make an impact as Robinson’s side succumbed to another defeat. As a result, the U’s are rock bottom of League One with just six points from their opening eight games and have failed to keep a clean sheet in 17 matches.
