Oxford United have suffered a fourth defeat from five league games as they lost out at Peterborough United.
Goals from Joe Ward and Siriki Dembélé gave the Posh a 2-0 victory at London Road, extending the U’s run of failing to keep a clean sheet to 14 games.
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Karl Robinson started the game with Simon Eastwood in goal behind the same back four that lost at Gillingham last time out. Josh Ruffels and Sean Clare were the full backs while Sam Long partnered Elliott Moore in the middle, with Rob Atkinson still out injured.
Liam Kelly sat in front of the back four despite Alex Rodriguez Gorrin nearing full fitness, with Anthony Forde and James Henry as the central partnership. Cameron Brannagan missed the game with an eye problem.
Dan Agyei, who scored at Gillingham, started on the left with Mark Sykes on the right, while Matty Taylor once again led the line.
Peterborough, who won this fixture 4-0 last season, started brightly. Early deliveries from Ward and Nathan Thompson down the Posh’s right found Jonson Clarke-Harris inside five minutes, but the former Bristol Rovers striker was unable to score on either occasion.
Down the right again, the ball eventually fell to Ward who saw his effort tipped onto the post by Eastwood.
The U’s took time to get going. Henry, who was making his 500th career appearance, fired over after some good build-up play by Forde and Sykes.
Ward continued to cause Ruffels problem down the U’s left and saw another effort sail just wide as the hosts looked for the opener.
But the U’s then started to get into the game. Goalkeeper Christy Pym was on hand on two occasions to deny the visitors. Firstly, Taylor was denied before Agyei stabbed the ball from close range, but straight at the goalkeeper.
But, as we’ve seen already this season, the U’s failure to convert set them up for punishment at the other end. A long ball from Jack Taylor found Ward who took advantage of an unorganised defence to lob the ball over Eastwood.
After the restart, the U’s looked for an early equaliser but Pym was inspired between the sticks, denying Sykes and Agyei in quick succession. Ruffels then headed wide from a corner before Frankie Kent came close to scoring an own goal.
But, like at Gillingham, the missed chances once again proved costly. Dembélé was on hand to fire home from close range after the U’s were unable to clear their lines.
The visitors were unable to find the net, leaving them bottom of the League One table.
