Coventry City 2 - 1 Oxford United

Met plenty of Oxford fans tonight, they're a great bunch. - They even liked my dog!

Stevenson the star man as Sky Blues claim first home league win



The Sky Blues survived an overtime goal from Cov Kid Dan Crowley to secure the win that lifts them off the foot off the table.

Although a wonder-strike from Ben Stevenson and a gimme for Marvin Sordell put City in control at half-time, they were left sweating when the on-loan Arsenal prodigy struck in the 92nd minute.

But they held out to provide the perfect response to Saturday’s defeat at Charlton and nudge above Shrewsbury in the danger zone.

With Lewis Page and Jordan Willis getting a clean bill of health, Mark Venus made just one change from the side beaten at the Valley – Daniel Agyei rotating with Andre Wright up front.

City kicked off towards the wedge of 2,000 raucous Oxford fans and nearly stunned them into silence with a superb second-minute move, Sordell forcing a reflex save from Eastwood after Bigirimana and Lameiras had combined brilliantly.

Agyei earned a corner from another fine Lameiras pass and Sordell fired over the bar as the Sky Blues pushed forward but Maguire – briefly and memorably on loan at City a couple of years ago – gave a reminder of his long-range threat with a fierce 25-yarder which was too hot for Burge to hold even though it was straight at him.

The keeper was granted a major reprieve in the 23rd minute when he flapped at Maguire’s corner but Dunkley’s header smacked against the bar and two follow-up shots were blocked. Just as Oxford seemed to be taking control, however, City found a second attacking wind and although Agyei passed up a golden chance, shooting weakly at Eastwood from prime position, the home side broke through four minutes later with a glorious goal.

Lameiras’s shot was charged down after a typically sinuous run by the Portuguese but the ball ricocheted to Stevenson 30-odd yards out and he left the keeper stranding with a magnificent drive – his first senior goal and surely City’s goal of the season to date.

Sordell’s shot was blocked and Eastwood moved sharply to deny Agyei as City pressed for a cushion – and they were gifted that second second two minutes before half-time as Edwards tried to head McCann’s deep diagonal back to Eastwood but succeeded only in teeing up an open goal for Sordell. It was hammer-and-tongs stuff from both sides at the start of the second half with Maguire continuing to look the visitors’ danger man.

He drew yellow-card fouls from Stevenson and Sterry in the space of two minutes – the second presenting him with a free-kick on the edge of the area only for Burge to pull off a flying save. Sterry and McCann had shots charged down – the latter a far more menacing attempt – before Venus freshened up his attack by pitching on Tudgay and Reid for Agyei and Lameiras.

Sordell tried to put the game to bed with three pot-shots – the second of which slid just past the far post – while the subs made an impact with Tudgay denied by Raglan’s last-gasp interception and Eastwood parrying Reid’s fierce shot.

Oxford grabbed a lifeline in injury time, Crowley turning home Maguire’s deflected cross, but City survived and almost claimed a bonus third when Reid raced through the stretched United defence but pulled his chip wide with Eastwood hopelessly stranded.

Attendance: 9,912 (2,137 away)