Oxford United kept their playoff hopes alive with a 3-2 win on the road against relegation-threatened Fleetwood.
The U’s raced into a three-goal lead through Nathan Holland, Cameron Brannagan and Billy Bodin but the hosts reduced the deficit before the break from the penalty spot.
Fleetwood netted a second goal after the restart and had an effort cleared off the line with the U’s looking nervy. However, they held on to secure a vital three points.
Here are three talking points from the game.
Perfect Start
Having lost three games in succession, this was a must-win game for the U’s and the game plan would have been to get out and net early. They didn’t do it once, or even twice, but scored three times inside 15 minutes.
First, Holland, who was making his 50th Oxford appearance latched on to a loose ball and rifled it into the bottom corner after just two minutes.
Five minutes later, Brannagan netted his 14th goal of the campaign after a quick one-two on the edge of the box with Holland before curling the ball into the bottom corner.
Brannagan then turned provider for Bodin as he headed home a cross from the left to put the U’s in complete control.
Nathan Holland
Holland has come under criticism in recent weeks and rightfully so after some average displays but the West Ham winger looked lively in Lancashire.
He took his goal well but was alert to the loose ball in the build-up and interlinked with Brannagan for the second.
The winger remained a threat down Oxford’s left-hand side before being replaced by Gavin Whyte with half an hour remaining.
Two Goals Conceded
One cause for concern is the lack of cohesion at the back, despite an unchanged defence, as the U’s were undone twice against Fleetwood.
The first came from 12 yards after the referee adjudged a handball and Ellis Harrison sent Jack Stevens the wrong way.
The second came when a through ball into the box was only parried by the Oxford goalkeeper and the defence was slow in reacting to the loose ball before Cian Hayes slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
Fleetwood also struck the bar in the first half and had an attempt cleared off the line when just one goal down. Fortunately for Oxford, they held on to secure the points.
