Oxford United win 2-1 at Notts County in League One return

Aaron Ramsey’s men extended their league unbeaten run to four games, picking up their fourth win of the season thanks to goals from Mark Harris and captain Cameron Brannagan.

Jamie Cumming just missed out on a clean sheet on his return to the side as Rory Finneran found a stoppage-time consolation goal, with eight yellow cards dished out in a hostile atmosphere.

The U’s rose to fourth in the table ahead of the 3PM kick-offs.

After a scrappy first couple of minutes, Oxford almost, and should have, took the lead with a cross from Mo Missanga touched onto Tyler Goodrham who had time to shoot in the box but could only tamely place it at the goalkeeper.

Jamie Cumming’s first save came moments later, holding Cal Roberts’ low effort.

The U’s soon grew into control, Louie Sibley and Peter Kioso having powerful efforts blocked before the breakthrough.

The opening goal was a gift for Harris, James Belshaw playing the ball straight to the Wales international who slotted home with aplomb.

Possession changed hands fairly often after the goal, County with careless passes as Oxford tried to push forward.

Another giveaway came from Jacob Bedeau to Siriki Dembele, the winger firing over the crossbar as he entered the box.

The Magpies then blasted over themselves, James Gibbons with too much on his effort from the edge of the penalty area.

The hosts did manage to find the net just before the break, Gibbons kicking it out of the grasp of Cumming and a foul given in Oxford’s favour.

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Martin Paterson’s men began the second half with vigour, calling for multiple penalties as they tried to force their way into the Yellows’ box.

A good save from Cumming denied a bending Roberts effort, the midfielder seeing another blocked moments later.

A rockets wide at the near post from Goodrham preceded the hosts scuppering a big opportunity, Daniel Kanu missing the ball as it came to him in the box.

Oxford pinned County back with efforts from Lynch and O’Donkor thwarted, before the hosts returned the favour.

Finneran saw a shot blocked himself as the visitors struggled to clear, eventually doing so fatally.

Luka Lynch burst forward for United, playing to Brannagan who arrowed into the bottom corner to bag his side’s second.

A lapse in concentration saw Finneran’s strike from the edge of the area beat Cumming, but it was too little, too late for Paterson’s men.

Magpies: Belshaw, Gibbons (Tsaroulla 46), McDonald, Bedeau, Roberts, Cooper (Finneran 46), Kanu, Grant (Smyth 65), Ness, Palmer (Sanders 46), Samuels-Smith

Yellows: Cumming, Kioso, Helik, Brown, Currie (Spencer 76), Brannagan, Sibley (Andrews 58), Goodrham (O’Donkor 66), Missanga (Snowden 66), Harris, Dembele (Lynch 76)

Bookings: McDonald, Cooper, Sanders, Bedeau, Finneran; Sibley, Kioso, Helik