Oxford United and Rochdale played out a seven-goal thriller but it was the U’s that picked up all three points.
Dan Agyei opened the scoring with his fourth goal of the season, but Oxford headed into the break 2-1 down. Second-half goals from Elliott Moore and James Henry regained the U’s advantage before they were pegged back again.
But in second-half stoppage time, Mide Shodipo made it seven successive wins for the first time since 1985.
Here’s the #oufc starting XI at Rochdale. pic.twitter.com/We8ycGUP8p
— Oxford Mail OUFC (@OxfordMailOUFC) January 26, 2021
Karl Robinson made four changes from the side that beat Bristol Rovers on Saturday with Jamie Hanson, Jordan Obita, Cameron Brannagan and Agyei all coming into the side. Shodipo, Liam Kelly and Henry dropped to the bench, while Marcus McGuane missed out through injury.
The back five stayed the same with Jack Stevens in goal behind Josh Ruffels, Rob Atkinson, Moore and Sam Long. Hanson played alongside Alex Rodriguez Gorrin with Robinson opting four two holding midfielders, with Brannagan as a ten.
Obita and Agyei were the wide men while Matty Taylor, who reached double figures with a brace against Bristol Rovers, started up top.
The U’s started brightly. From a Rochdale corner, Oxford launched a counter-attack but Agyei was denied by goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu.
Agyei was looking lively. The winger burst forward with the ball before being fouled, but the set-piece from Brannagan sailed over.
Then, just after ten minutes, the U’s made the breakthrough, and it was Agyei to open the scoring. The U’s wasted the corner initially, but quick feet from the winger created space before drilling it into the bottom corner from 25-yards.
The game started to open and Rochdale levelled just ten minutes later. A break from the hosts was finished by Matt Done after a swift attack.
Ten minutes later, Dale won themselves a corner and it led to the games third goal. The corner was whipped in towards the near post and Stephen Humphrys flicked past Stevens with his back towards goal.
Oxford pushed for a leveller. Obita fired over from a rare opportunity as Dale continued to control the game.
The U’s found the back of the net in first-half stoppage time but Taylor was adjudged to be offside after Bazunu spilt Brannagan’s shot.
At the break, Henry replaced Hanson as the U’s changed to an attacking setup. And it didn’t take long before the U’s found an equaliser. Henry delivered a delicious free-kick which was met by Moore to notch his third goal of the season.
Moments later, Bazunu denied Henry before Done’s cross was well defended at the other end.
But 15 minutes into the second half, Oxford restored their lead. The U’s broke quickly and Henry unleashed a fierce effort from range into the top corner.
However, just two minutes later and the hosts were level again. The ball founds it’s way across the six-yard box and Matty Lund tapped home.
Substitutes Winnall and Forde combined but the former was unable to keep his effort down while Rochdale, once again, began to take control of the possession.
The final ten minutes became very scrappy for both sides, but the game came to life in stoppage time. Firstly, Stevens expertly denied an effort from inside his own half by the Aaron Morley, before substitute Shodipo lobbed Bazunu from 35 yards following the goalkeepers’ poor clearance. It earned the U’s another incredible three points with his seventh goal of the season.
Oxford stay 11th despite the points ahead of a home game against Fleetwood Town on Saturday.
