Oxford 3 Shrewsbury Town 0 - Report and pictures

An abject first 14 minutes proved fatal for John Askey’s team who never recovered. After shipping two goals in the opening quarter of an hour they didn’t manage a single first-half shot against the confident U’s, who celebrated their 125th anniversary in style.

Any pressure alleviated on boss Askey was undone in Oxford as, barring a couple of efforts, Shrewsbury didn’t threaten to cut the deficit.

The result makes it four draws and four defeats on the road for Town, who stay just afloat of the League One drop zone, by one point, in 19th.

Askey was left standing disconsolate on the edge of his technical as U’s sub Marcus Browne slipped in a late third to add to Josh Ruffels and Gavin Whyte early headers.

Nearly 600 Town fans stayed with their side, impressively, for the entire second half but a chorus of boos came at half-time, substitutions, and the end.

Analysis:

There hasn’t been many occasions Askey has been able to rightfully field the same XI this season. There were no qualms as the teamsheet read out the same side that put the fancied Barnsley to the sword on Tuesday night at Montgomery Waters Meadow.

Town’s entire 18 contained just one change and that was winger Abo Eisa, who has spent the best part of two months sidelined with a knee injury.

He was into the matchday squad for club captain Lenell John-Lewis, while regular skipper Mat Sadler - controversially dropped against the Tykes - was again left on the bench.

There was plenty of goodwill around The Kassam Stadium as Town’s hosts celebrated their 125th anniversary.

Dozens of U’s legends, making up around 6,000 appearances and 600 goals, embarked on to the pitch to heroic receptions. The one Salop connection was former forward Lee Steele, who played more than 100 games for Shrews before his two Oxford spells. They gave the two sides a guard of honour ahead of kick-off.

But any enthusiasm built up by a fine 3-1 win in midweek and by the consistency of a familiar team was ruined within 15 minutes.

After 180 seconds, by which time Oxford had worked their second corner, they profited.

Tony McMahon’s corner was missed by Shrews striker Lee Angol at his near post and expertly headed into the far corner by left-back Ruffels to give the birthday hosts the perfect start to their party.

Town were shell-shocked as the hosts netted at a similar time to when Salop had took the lead early against Barnsley. Any fragile confidence on this winless away run looked shot.

And barely before Askey’s men found their feet or their heads they were two down.

They were two behind after 14 minutes. A start officially poorer than the dismal opening at Fleetwood in the previous away game.

Experienced former Middlesbrough and Bradford right-back McMahon was again the creator. Oxford leisured on the edge of Town’s box, enjoying all the possession in the world before Whyte worked it out to McMahon and met the defender’s fine first-time cross.

His header was not as accurate as Ruffels’ and looked saveable from Joel Coleman’s position but the keeper was poorly beaten by the mid-height header despite looking like he got two hands to it.

Oxford had all the time in the world down the right with left wing-back Ryan Haynes ghosted past.

Town players were looking at each other but had no answer.

Oxford’s intensity dropped off thanks to the two-goal lead. They knew their job was half done.

Shrews spent a lot of the remaining first half with the ball but going nowhere. So opposed to the other night, Shrewsbury were static with little imagination from both ball player and runners.

They were ponderous on the ball and created no opportunities to speak of in the first half. The performance was summed up by a period of play, ending with Haynes’ pass being intercepted by referee Martin Coy.

Boos from the away end rang out at the sound of the half-time whistle. Oxford had comfortably dropped into third gear after their goals and the visitors hadn’t threatened.

Town did more as an attacking force within two minutes of the restart than the entirety of the first 45. Skipper Luke Waterfall headed tamely wide.

Angol, wound up from a first half altercation, was rightly booked for a petulant shove and, just eight minutes into the second period, was culled by Askey to home jeers and replaced by Aaron Amadi-Holloway.

Salop’s best moment of the game arrived shortly after as the unmarked Greg Docherty - so lethal on Tuesday - saw his strike from 10 yards blocked by a defender.

Ollie Norburn resulting effort from outside the box looked on target but flicked behind off a defender.

Town were better but Askey’s second sub was not well-received as Docherty, who’d been far from his best, was brought off for Josh Laurent.

Oxford were cruising and within inches of a telling third. Coleman looked to get a telling touch from Jamie Mackie’s thunderbolt before the talented Ricky Holmes attempted an audacious curler from distance.

The closest Askey’s men went to making a dent on the comfortable hosts was Waterfall’s bullet header from a corner, brilliantly saved by Simon Eastwood.

Town’s near 600 away following didn’t stop making noise but were gifted precious little in return.

The game was over long before sub Browne slipped in a third five minutes from time. Again referee Coy was involved as he intercepted a Norburn pass.

The late introduction of Eisa for his first minutes of the season did little to lift the solemn Salop mood.

Deserved boos greeted a tellingly bad day at the office for Askey and his team.

Key moments:

3 - Oxford goal. Tony McMahon’s right-sided corner was missed by Lee Angol and headed into the corner by left-back Josh Ruffels for his first goal of the season.

14 - Oxford goal. The hosts go two-nil up. After a period of possession centrally, Gavin Whyte plays it out right and McMahon’s cross finds the onrushing Whyte, whose header should have been saved by Joel Coleman.

55 - Ollie Norburn’s reverse ball played in Ryan Haynes on the left side of the box. His cut back drops the way of the unmarked Greg Docherty but the Scot’s close range shot is blocked before Norburn’s rocket flicks behind.

66 - Unlucky Salop as Luke Waterfall’s powerful header is saved spectacularly by Simon Eastwood.

86 - Sub Marcus Browne beats Coleman one-on-one after ref Martin Coy had got in the way of Norburn’s pass. Easy finish.

Teams

Oxford United (4-3-3):

Eastwood; McMahon, Nelson, Dickie, Ruffels; Mousinho ©, Brannagan, Henry (Browne, 73); Whyte, Mackie (Smith, 90), Holmes (Hanson, 84).

Subs not used: Shearer (gk), Garbutt, Carruthers, Long.

Shrewsbury Town (3-5-2):

Coleman; Bolton, Waterfall ©, Beckles; Emmanuel, Grant, Docherty (Laurent, 64), Norburn, Haynes (Eisa, 87); Angol (Amadi-Holloway, 53), Okenabirhie.

Subs not used: Arnold (gk), Sadler, Gilliead, Barnett.

Referee: Martin Coy

Attendance: 8,697 (594 Shrewsbury fans)

Position in the table: 19th (15 points from 16 games)

Star man: Fejiri Okenabirhie - One bright spark.