Oxford United beaten by Derby in blow to survival hopes

Jaydon Banel scored the only goal of the game in the first half as the U’s were left frustrated, seeing big chances squandered in the second half by Yunus Konak and Mark Harris.

Matt Bloomfield’s men remain in the bottom three as their survival hopes continue to be left in the balance.

A cagey start to the game saw Derby find the first effort when Banel aimed Derry Murkin’s low cross at goal only to see it blocked.

Oxford’s first effort came from Jamie Donley who could also only hit a defender.

Oxford United’s Jamie Donley shoots (Image: Oxford United)

Another blocked shot saw Murkin denied by Michal Helik before a big chance fell for Stan Mills with space to run at goal, the winger forcing himself too wide before running the ball out of play.

The Rams opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when a rapid counter attack saw Banel burst forward before cutting onto his right foot and sweeping the ball into the bottom left corner.

Captain Cameron Brannagan saw a shot blocked in response before Banel tried to find a second but was thwarted by Helik who came sliding in.

The hosts began to settle into the game then, having the lion’s share of possession and frustrating the Yellows.

Sam Szmodics fired over from range before headers from Matt Clarke and Carlton Morris missed the target.

Oxford United’s Myles Peart-Harris runs with the ball at Pride Park (Image: Oxford United)

The second period saw little improvement from Oxford, Szmodics able to shoot in the box with Brown getting a touch to see it over.

A huge chance arrived on the counter for United though, Myles Peart-Harris getting into the box but lingering and losing the ball at the last second to the retreating Szmodics.

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The U’s received a let-off when Banel slipped when shooting in the box before another big chance fell for Konak.

The young midfielder won the ball high up and was two-on-one with Jeon Jin-woo but opted to shoot, blazing it over agonisingly.

Derby maintained pressure, Szmodics denied again from close range as the U’s looked frustrated.

Oxford kept the hosts at bay before asserting late pressure, substitute Harris putting a late Aidomo Emakhu cross wide at the death.

Derby: Zetterstrom, Ward, Sanderson (Langas 71), Clarke, Murkin (Forsyth 90+1), Travis, Ozoh (Fraulo 70), Brereton Diaz, Szmodics (Salvesen 90+1), Banel (Johnston 86), Morris

Oxford: Cumming, Long, Helik, Brown, Spencer (Vaulks 89), Konak (Harris 84), Brannagan, Mills, Donley (Jin-woo 62), Peart-Harris (Emakhu 62), Lankshear

Bookings: Ozoh, Fraulo, Szmodics, Murkin; Brannagan, Jin-woo