Matty Taylor’s goal a minute before the break saw Oxford United to 1-0 victory over 10-man Town at Portman Road. The Blues dominated the first half but were unable to find a goal and were hit by a sucker punch just before the break. The Blues huffed and puffed for the most part in the second half and had Kayden Jackson red-carded for an alleged stamp in injury time.

Town named an unchanged side with Tomas Holy in goal behind a back three of Luke Woolfenden, skipper Luke Chambers and Josh Earl, while Gwion Edwards and Luke Garbutt were the wing-backs.

In midfield, Flynn Downes was partnered by Jon Nolan with Alan Judge ahead of them behind strike pair Will Keane and Jackson.

There was one change on the bench with Andre Dozzell taking the place of James Norwood, who underwent a groin operation on Friday.

For Oxford, midfielder Alex Gorrin was back after a ban and replaced Mark Sykes, who dropped to the bench.

Town began the game brightly with Jackson, who was celebrating his 26th birthday, and Edwards both sending in crosses from the right.

The Blues controlled the early stages for the most part although twice Earl, playing without his protective mask for the first time since joining the Blues, gifted the ball to the U’s in his own half before his team-mates helped snuff out the danger.

On nine, Jackson escaped his man and broke away down the right before sending in a low cross which was too far in front of Keane.

Two minutes later, Jackson turned Edwards’s ball to feet into the path of Keane who looked to be in on goal until his first touch took him into the path of an Oxford defender, who cleared the danger.

The Blues continued to have the better of it with Oxford pinned back in their half and as the game reached the 15-minute mark Woolfenden struck a powerful 20-yard strike which was blocked just inside the area.

Town threatened again down the right in the 22nd minute, Jackson cutting a ball back to the edge of the area from where Garbutt smashed a shot over.

Two minutes later, Marcus Browne hit Oxford’s first effort of the game over the bar from a 25-yard freekick.

On the half hour a Judge corner from the left was nodded out to Chambers, whose header was flicked over the bar by a defender.

From the subsequent flag-kick, Nolan eventually stabbed the ball through to Keane in space inside the six-yard box to the left but Oxford keeper Simon Eastwood was able to smother.

Town continued to push for the game’s opening goal and in the 32nd minute Keane crossed low from the right and Downes flicked across the face of goal. Had the midfielder left it Garbutt behind him would have had an easy tap-in.

The Blues kept up the pressure and went close again in the 35th minute, Keane heading wide from a tight angle beyond the far post from Garbutt’s right-sided corner.

Oxford had made little impression from an attacking perspective but in the 36th minute James Henry broke into the area in space from the right but scuffed his shot through to Holy.

Town then attacked down the left, Jackson beating his man then teeing-up Garbutt, whose shot was blocked. Nathan Holland subsequently hit a shot which hit a Blues defender before Garbutt was booked for an attempted foul during Oxford’s previous attack. On 41 Nolan shot wide.

The Blues had dominated the half but a minute before the scheduled end of the half, the visitors took the lead.

A neatly-worked move ended with Cameron Brannagan finding Henry on the right of the area. His low ball across the edge of the six-yard box found Taylor, who beat Holy.

On the balance of play, Town could find themselves very unfortunate to be behind at the break. The Blues had dominated a team who usually control games themselves and had created a number of openings.

However, they had been unable to take them - or force Eastwood into any significant saves - while Oxford’s goal had come via their first passage of passing inside the Blues half.

Town won a corner moments after the restart, a bouncing ball reaching Woolfenden on the edge of the area after being half-cleared but the defender’s effort looped well over.

Soon after, Jackson was sent away on the left and his cross was diverted behind. From the subsequent corner taken by Garbutt on the left, Earl headed goalwards but Eastwood tipped over. From the resultant flag-kick, the ball was headed out to Judge, who shot over.

On 51 Oxford broke forward and Brannagan was found on the edge of the box but his strike was blocked by Woolfenden.

Two minutes later, Earl’s cross from the left took a flick off Josh Ruffels on its way towards the far post where it hit Edwards, who had been unable to react to the touch, and bounced straight to Eastwood.

Holland shot over after Woolfenden was overconfident on the ball in a dangerous area on 59, then two minutes later Taylor got in behind Chambers but fortunately for the Blues stabbed the ball straight at the advancing Holy.

Town were continuing to dominate with balls coming into the box from both flanks but with the Oxford backline remaining resolute. On 64 Browne was booked for a foul on Edwards.

Oxford swapped Holland, who had picked up a knock, for Sykes in the 70th minute, then the Blues, with their performance having become scrappier and more frustrated, switched Edwards for Teddy Bishop and moved to 4-4-2 with the sub on the left of midfield.

On 80 Jamie Mackie replaced goalscorer Taylor for the visitors, then three minutes later Dan Agyei took over from Henry.

Town were continuing to push and send balls into the box but the U’s were maintaining their determined defence.

As the game moved into four minutes of additional time Judge was switched for Freddie Sears.

Town’s frustrating afternoon got worse three minutes into injury time when Jackson was, to the surprise of most in the ground, shown a straight red card for what referee Scott Oldham indicated was a stamp on Oxford skipper Rob Dickie.

The striker looked bemused as the card was waved in his direction and the Blues may well have grounds for an appeal with Jackson otherwise facing a three-match ban.

Woolfenden was booked for a foul, then just before the whistle, with referee Oldham, who had had an inconsistent afternoon, starting to lose control, there was a scuffle involving most players from both teams by the corner flag by the away fans.

The final whistle was greeted by boos from the home support aimed partly towards the referee but also at manager Paul Lambert and his assistant Stuart Taylor as they made their way towards the Sir Bobby Robson Stand after another frustrating afternoon at Portman Road.

Town had dominated possession in the first half and created enough opportunities to have won the game. However, they failed to take their chances or even overly test the keeper. Oxford scored with their first serious shot in open play.

The Blues were still on top for most of the second half but were less dominant and still failed to create enough chances against an Oxford defence who will be delighted with their afternoon's work, Earl’s early header the only big save Eastwood was forced to make.

The defeat sees the Blues, who have now won just four of their last 18 in the league, drop to eighth, eight points off the top two and two from sixth, with a visit to Blackpool, who drew 0-0 at Wimbledon this afternoon, next Saturday.

Town: Holy, Chambers (c), Woolfenden, Earl, Edwards (Bishop 71), Nolan, Downes, Garbutt, Judge (Sears 90), Jackson, Keane. Unused: Norris, Skuse, Wilson, Dozzell, Huws.

Oxford: Eastwood, Ruffels, Dickie (c), Moore, Gorrin, Brannagan, Taylor (Mackie 80), Forde, Henry (Agyei 83), Holland (Sykes 70), Browne. Unused: Stevens, Long, Hanson, Thorne. Referee: Scott Oldham (Poulton-le-Fylde). Att:19,367 (Oxford: 1,365).

Photo: TWTD

Kickingblock added 20:22 - Feb 22 Arrrghh!! The embarrassment of having to do the walk of shame past happy away fans AGAIN!
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londontractorboy57 added 20:36 - Feb 22 Evans =some sort of hope No Evans = no club If Evans could sell he would believe you me .What has he got to sell we dont own the Ground You might get 20million for the squad then theres the small matter of 90 million pound debt. So to analyse the situation we could be the next Bury then the the numbskulls will squeal still they got what the wished for or did they?

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Northstandveteran added 20:57 - Feb 22 Excellent post cakeman. In danger of being overtaken by Gillingham was the the 1st thing I noticed ITFC73. I am now feeling very embarrassed with my brain for thinking that we couldn't get any worse.
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timkatieadamitfc added 21:08 - Feb 22 @runaround - hope she gets better soon
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juniorblue added 21:27 - Feb 22 Very disappointing after scoring 4 last week. There is a fragility about the players which I can't understand. On paper we have the players to do well, but they just don't 'do it'. We seem to need 100 chances to score 1, which is hopeless. Why put Sears on so late in the game?? I think Mick Mills is right...... everything has become too casual. There is no fight or creativity and Lambert is far too slow to make mid game changes. Dear oh dear, what a massively disappointing season this has become.

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BeattiesBackPocket added 21:49 - Feb 22 Londontractorboy57 please read my post on page 3 and answer the questions on evans and if you can give me one then I'll listen to your Evans remarks. Btw we were out of administration with only a 30 million pound debt before he came then since he's been here we've been relegated and at our lowest point ever and with 90 million pound debt and that's with 50 million recouped in player sales so really somehow we've lost 110 million in his time how? Where on what? Not on players is it? That's a team with 20000 gates whilst little Brentford get half that and are in or near the playoffs every year oh and they've built a new ground whilst ours is becoming a relic so tell me how has evans served us so well again?

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ITFCsince73 added 21:51 - Feb 22 Londontractor. You need to understand, after previous 2 or 3 seasons, it was better to have dropped down. It doesn't alter the fact that over the past 12/14 months, some very odd decisions have been made by the club...hence current plight. Parting ways with Mick Ma was actually one of the clubs better decisions in recent years.
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Gazelle added 22:01 - Feb 22 What a relief that we're unlikely to be slaughtered by Norwich next season.
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ITFCsince73 added 22:02 - Feb 22 All very true Cakeman. And improvements were promised over a year ago.....to lessen the blow of relegation. But promised none the less.
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bobble added 22:10 - Feb 22 burley..burley..burley
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Blue_Meanie added 22:17 - Feb 22 We're going to end up like those sad clubs you see on the telly with the top tier of the stands closed off.
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delias_cheesy_flaps added 22:39 - Feb 22 We have the players just not the manager!
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algarvefan added 22:46 - Feb 22 What has happened to our once great club? When I lived in the UK I would go to games and look forward to them and win, lose or draw the football was nearly always entertaining and good to watch. I know we are in Division 3 but where is the passion and the fight and more importantly getting the basics right? This season is all but lost, we don't know how to score, I know we got 4 last week but as I said then Burton were poor, very poor and we should have doubled that total. We are at best a mid-table side and the time is fast approaching when the club needs to clear out the comfortable players who have been here a long time. Bring in Butcher and Nash and give regular starts to our young players. It will be tough to start with but I honestly believe this is the only answer, then keep the youngsters and build. I don't think I can sit through yet another game where the football is 'OK' but we can't score, we lack drive and ambition. Bring on the kids.

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blueboy1981 added 23:48 - Feb 22 BBP - all well and good to keep calling for Evans head - but add the ‘alternative owner option' to your repetitive post. The Club is up For Sale - what alternative to ownership is there, with NO buyers ? We once were an attraction, to Managers, Players, and maybe potential owners - but get real, we're far from that these days. Lambert has the squad he requested of Evans - he is incapable of getting the best out of it. Whatever was his thinking today ref Sears on with less that five minutes left of the game, Lambert has to carry the can for this seasons debacle, which could very soon get worse. I predicted under Lambert a 10th place finish this season - we will have to be much better than we currently are to even make that.

1

atty added 23:49 - Feb 22 If we don't go up, this so called team needs to be broken up, and the manager/his staff gone. OUT - Chambers, Williams, Skuse,Nolan,Judge,Keane,Jackson. STAY - VKY, Wolfenden,Kenlock, Downes,Rowe, Nydam, Bishop,Dozzell,Sears,Lancaster,Norwood, Dobra, El Mizouni, Morris. IN - leaders/experienced - 2 centre backs, 2 midfielders, 2 strikers.
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blueboy1981 added 23:56 - Feb 22 The Players lack motivation, you can see it, too casual - and the persons job to sort that is LAMBERT - instead if doing that, he condones what they are doing. Part if his job is to MOTIVATE. Lambert you have come to the end of you less than impressive career in Management - don't pretend how good you are anymore, it's worn thin.
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marco5113 added 00:04 - Feb 23 Total embarrassment. Losing faith in a once great club. Promises are never delivered. Same analysis after every game and not being remedied ie creating chances but not scoring. He is the manager why doesnt he improve the finishing by training harder in this area. Or bringing in proven scorers in this division. There are major problems at Portman Road and i cannot see a remedy. Im hoping for the playoffs now( i cannot believe i am saying this) but reality is thats our only hope. Total shambles.

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blueboy1981 added 00:13 - Feb 23 Fleetwood - yes Fleetwood - two points and two places above us, with two games in hand. If that doesn't tell us how good Lambert is - then nothing will. No further proof needed surely ?
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GiveusaWave added 00:54 - Feb 23 Don't know what to say that others haven't already said.... Sadly we seem to be at about our level right now.....we will (most likely) lose Wolf and Downes in the Summer...which will leave us as a bang-average League 1 team.... Another 5 years of this? Oh dear....
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Cakeman added 06:33 - Feb 23 Sorry to post dreary comments on such an equally wet and dreary morning weather wise but there has been much talk by many including myself who would like new owners for our club. That really is the only way for us to move on. We are good at producing youngsters but very rarely do we keep them. The concern is that we are far from an attractive proposition for potential buyers. Please correct me if my understanding is wrong but an ever increasing large debt has to be paid for, we do not own the ground we play on although own the buildings (a lot of which are in a poor state.) Geographically I think we are ok as we can easily be reached from the South and the Midlands. The North is a bit different. The big saleable asset is the training facility but if that went we would still need somewhere else. All in all and the point of my post is that I cannot see how we are going to climb the divisions again. Certainly not in my lifetime. Sorry again for a dull post. At least the weather should improve this afternoon.

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chalky added 07:46 - Feb 23 Enough is enough. I agree with Timmy H - it's time ro get tough with Lambert, whose record is awful (at least with us) and appoint the Burley/Holland/Butcher team. To be lower in the table than teams like Fleetwood and Wycombe is a disgrace and a betrayal of a once-great club.
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therein61 added 08:21 - Feb 23 I think Mick Mills has a valid point about there being a casual air around the place, we have too many players(who should have been put out to grass with M.M) going through the motions who get very well paid for failing while we have to pay to watch them fail!!!!
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Tractorboy1985 added 08:24 - Feb 23 ITFC73... letting go of mick was a good decision was it?? He wouldn't have taken us down to league 1 that's for sure!!! And don't go on about the football being better coz it f'ing ain't!! It's garbage!! We play football along the back 4/5 then just punt it like we did with mick! But with mick we got results.. it might have been harsh on thee eye but I'd take that any day over the tripe we are being dished up from ex scum haggis and his cronies!!! Get f'ing real!!! Mick was a GOOD manager and the sooner you numbskulls realise it the better!!

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BettyBlue added 08:28 - Feb 23 What do you expect when you put a serial loser in charge? So predictable.
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BettyBlue added 08:30 - Feb 23 So our promotion hopes rests on a 4 goal a career "striker" and an injured player who can only manage 4 mins of a game. Lambert Out.
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