Oxford United produced yet another nerve-racking comeback in Shropshire as the U’s recorded a 3-2 win against Shrewsbury.
Elliot Lee gave the U’s an early lead but Shrewsbury scored two quick goals to take the lead. James Henry levelled midway through the second half before a late strike from Dan Agyei sealed a vital three points.
#oufc v Shrewsbury: Stevens, Long, Moore, Atkinson, Ruffels, Henry, Brannagan, Sykes, Lee, Taylor, Barker. Subs: Eastwood, Hanson, Forde, Gorrin, Shodipo, Winnall, Agyei pic.twitter.com/njOCzgWlvl
— BBC Radio Oxford Sport (@bbcoxfordsport) May 1, 2021
Karl Robinson made two changes from last weekends win over Plymouth with Henry and Brandon Barker returning from suspension and injury respectively.
Jack Stevens began in goal behind a back four of Josh Ruffels, Rob Atkinson (who was named in the League One Team of the Season), Elliott Moore and Sam Long.
Cameron Brannagan, who has been subject of transfer talk this week, sat behind Mark Sykes and Henry, while Barker and Lee were the wide men. Matty Taylor continued up top after his brace last time out.
The U’s began the game with something to prove and got their just rewards inside five minutes. Sykes caught Matthew Pennington in possession and played the ball wide to Taylor. The forward looked to shoot but played a low ball to the back post for Lee to tap home.
Atkinson came close but headed over from a Henry corner before Ethan Ebank-Landell went close for the hosts, who began to grow into the game.
From a corner, Pennington was allowed too much space and headed Harry Chapman’s delivery past Stevens.
Lee tried an effort from range but it sailed just wide before the Shrews added a second. Josh Vela eased through the defence and calmly slotted the ball past Stevens.
The U’s enjoyed large spells of possession but were unable to test Harry Burgoyne before the half time whistle.
After the restart, the game started as a scrappy battle between the two sides. Lee created space on the hour mark but Ebanks-Landell blocked his effort.
The U’s soon got themselves back on top and found a deserved equaliser. Long played the ball into the feet of Lee 12-yards out before quickly returning the ball to the onrushing Henry to slot the ball home.
Oxford knew that, regardless of results elsewhere, they needed all three points to head into the final day of the season with a chance of finishing in the playoffs.
Lee fired an effort over as Oxford pushed on, before he was replaced by Agyei. Ruffels, who scored a late winner when the two sides met at New Meadow last season, headed wide before attempting another effort moments later.
The pressure paid off when Winnall, who had replaced Barker, caused problems in the box. The ball fell to Agyei and he cut inside on his left before his effort deflected in past Burgoyne.
However, Oxford survived two late scares. First, Stevens expertly tipped over Ebanks-Landell’s header before palming Shaun Whalley’s drive from 18-yards.
The U’s held on to secure another vital three points. Wins for both Blackpool and Portsmouth mean Oxford remain just one point behind Pompey, while Charlton are three points behind Oxford with a game in hand.
