Kevin Francis celebrated his debut for Oxford with his first goal and the
winner against West Brom at the Manor ground.
Francis, signed for £150,000 from Birmingham yesterday, was one of three
players making their home debuts and the new look side combined well from the
start.
The 6ft 7ins striker set up an opening for on-loan O'Neill Donaldson after 10
minutes but he shot too high from six yards.
Donaldson wasted another opportunity created by Joey Beauchamp four minutes
later with another hastily struck shot but Oxford's non-stop pressure was
rewarded in the 15th minute.
Francis flicked on a Beauchamp free kick to Phil Gilchrist, who headed his
first goal of the season.
Albion were a different side in the second half and substitute Franz Carr
scuffed wide a perfect cross from Lee Hughes after 61 minutes.
Two minutes later Hughes again broke on the left and his perfect cross was
headed in by the unmarked Bob Taylor.
United withstood some lively raids and nine minutes from the end Francis
struck.
Donaldson made a quick break on the right before hitting a low shot which was
going wide of the far post but Francis stole in and forced the ball into the
net.
Teams
Oxford Utd: Whitehead, Robinson, Ford, Gray,
Davis (Wilsterman 90), Gilchrist, Powell (Angel 68), Smith,
Francis, Donaldson (Weatherstone 90), Beauchamp.
Booked: Smith.
Goals: Gilchrist 15, Francis 81.
West Brom: Miller, Holmes, Nicholson, Sneekes, Murphy, Carbon,
Butler (Coldicott 82), Taylor, Hughes, Hunt (Carr 60), Kilbane.
Subs Not Used: Burgess.
Booked: Carbon.
Goals: Taylor 63.
Att: 9,412
Ref: P Taylor (Cheshunt).
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