Manchester City's brave hopes of escaping the threat of relegation suffered
another major setback when they crashed at home to Oxford.
City had looked to have turned the corner under the guidance of new boss Joe
Royle, who had led them to successive victories to climb clear of the
drop-zone.
But today they were brought firmly back to earth as Oxford outfought them for
a thoroughly deserved win.
It could have been so different if City had been able to turn their early
pressure into goals but they found Oxford keeper Phil Whitehead in determined
mood.
He, alone, at times stood between City and the opening goal. First he had to
deal superbly with a long range shot from Peter Beardsley, turning the ball away
just as it seemed certain to find the top corner.
Then from the resulting corner he had to out-battle Uwe Rosler in a goalmouth
scramble before he was able to clear again.
After 25 minutes it was Whitehead again who saved magnificently to foil
Beardsley after the veteran striker had cut in from the left.
But for all their huff and puff up front City again looked vulnerable to
break-aways and after weathering all the early pressure Oxford began to fashion
their own opportunities.
Joey Beauchamp was the main danger, using his superb pace to pose a constant
threat to the City defence.
He should have scored when he swept onto a long clearance only to shoot
straight at City keeper Tommy Wright and then, four minutes before the half-time
break, Beauchamp was again in the clear and Wright injured himself diving at his
feet to save a certain goal.
But it was third time lucky for Beauchamp in first half injury time when
Oxford's 6ft 7in striker Kevin Francis fed him from the left and this time he
made no mistake, rifling home a left-foot shot past Wright's despairing dive.
In the second half City tried hard enough but it was left to defender Kakhaber
Tskhadadze to try and get them back in the game but he headed over the bar from
a corner.
Another chance fell to City's £3million striker Lee Bradbury, but he shot
weakly at Whitehead when clear.
It was Oxford who always looked the more dangerous particularly on the break
and nine minutes from time they sealed their win when Jamie Cook scored despite
the heroics of Wright.
Cook had broken clear only to see his first shot saved by the keeper but he
snapped up the loose ball off the toes of City substitute Craig Russell and this
time found the net despite Wright's gallant attempts to keep the ball out.
Teams
Man City: Wright, Jeff Whitley, Briscoe (Brown 61),
Shelia (Russell 45), Symons, Tskhadadze, Weikens, Jim Whitley,
Bradbury (Dickov 51), Beardsley, Rosler.
Booked: Jeff Whitley.
Oxford Utd: Whitehead, Robinson, Marsh, Gray, Davis, Gilchrist,
Massey (Powell 6), Smith, Francis, Cook (Weatherstone 85),
Beauchamp.
Subs Not Used: Wilsterman.
Booked: Marsh.
Goals: Beauchamp 44, Cook 81.
Att: 28,720
Ref: W C Burns (Scarborough).
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