U’s throw away lead to lose at Hull City - Iqraa news

OXFORD United threw away a lead within the space of 10 minutes as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at Hull City.

After a fairly lifeless first half from both sides, the U’s took the lead after 66 minutes, when Michal Helik smashed in a brilliant first-time volley from a corner.

But United conceded two sloppy goals within three minutes, as Joe Gelhardt worked a way through a gap in the U’s defence, and then Gustavo Puerta somehow managed to squeeze the ball inside the near post from the left-hand byline.

The loss extended United’s winless run in Sky Bet Championship to nine matches, and heightened the scrap for survival the U’s find themselves in.

Gary Rowett switched back to his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, and made three changes to the side which battled to the 1-1 draw at Norwich City.

One of those was enforced as Cameron Brannagan was ruled out due to a minor knee injury, while Przemyslaw Placheta and Ole Romeny dropped to the bench.

Into the side came Stan Mills, Matt Phillips and Ruben Rodrigues, with Mills starting for the first time since December 2023 following his lengthy recovery from a serious knee injury.

In addition to Brannagan, Rowett was also without Tyler Goodrham due to illness, therefore Ben Nelson and Jordan Thorniley made the bench, with Nelson back fit after a quad injury suffered in the reverse clash against the Tigers back in November.

The game took quarter of an hour to kick into life after a stodgy start, with Phillips bending in a right wing free kick which Elliott Moore headed wide.

Midway through the first half, a 25-yard free kick from Will Vaulks brought a smart low save out of Tigers goalkeeper Ivor Pandur.

The match then brightened a little bit, as Lewie Coyle directed a first-time volley wide with his right foot, while a Phillips cross skewed in from the left-hand byline forced Pandur into tipping the ball over for a corner which ultimately came to nothing for the U’s.

Gelhardt was a threat for the home side, and he showed quick feet to evade a couple of challenges, before then firing a left-footed effort from just outside the penalty box off target.

Leeds United loanee Gelhardt then had a driving run down the right-hand side, prior to drifting infield and forcing a good save out of Jamie Cumming from the edge of the penalty area.

Tempers flared at the end of the half, with a bit of pushing and shoving inside the United box, and referee Josh Smith saw fit to show a yellow card to both Ciaron Brown and Gelhardt.

Five minutes into the second period, the U’s pinched the ball high up the field, resulting in Mark Harris swivelling and shooting from the edge of the box, however the striker’s low effort was claimed by Pandur.

The Tigers were presented with a glorious chance to hit the target just before the hour mark, as Abu Kamara cut the ball back for Gelhardt, who instead of testing Cumming, blazed comfortably over the crossbar.

Shortly after, United lost skipper Moore, who picked up a knock, and he was replaced by Nelson, while Placheta came on for Mills at the same time.

The U’s then nudged in front with 66 minutes on the clock, as Helik produced a fabulous first-time volley which flew into the back of the net from a Phillips corner.

Seven minutes later though, the Tigers were level after Gelhardt squirmed through a gap in the United defence and finished from close range.

The Tigers then put themselves in front three minutes later, as a shot from Puerta on the left-hand byline somehow found a way past Cumming at the goalkeeper’s near post.

Rowett responded by making another double switch, as Siriki Dembele and Romeny replaced Phillips and Rodrigues respectively.

With three minutes to go, the ball fell to Placheta, who rattled the crossbar with a left-footed volley 25 yards from goal.

Six minutes of stoppage were signalled at the end of the second half, but in truth, United never really looked like threatening to get an equaliser.

Hull City (4-2-3-1): Pandur; Coyle, Jones, Hughes, McLoughlin; Alzate (Slater 67), Puerta; Kamara (Egan 90), Gelhardt, Joseph (Burstow 67); Crooks (Palmer 67).

Unused subs: Lo-Tutala, Lincoln, Burns, Jacob, Amrabat.

Booked: Gelhardt.

Oxford United (4-2-3-1): Cumming; ter Avest, Helik, Moore (Nelson 63), Brown; Vaulks, Matos (El Mizouni 87); Mills (Placheta 63), Rodrigues (Romeny 78), Phillips (Dembele 78); Harris.

Unused subs: Ingram, Thorniley, Long, Kioso.

Booked: Brown.

Referee: Josh Smith (Lincolnshire)

Attendance: 19,024 (TBC away)