Callum O'Hare's second-half strike finally eased some of the pressure on Sheffield United as they claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Oxford United to end their six-game losing start to the Championship season. The former Coventry midfielder struck in the 65th minute, finishing coolly into the bottom corner after Chiedozie Ogbene's cut-back, to hand Chris Wilder his first win of his third spell in charge and the Blades' first victory since May 12.
Oxford, who had taken five points from their previous three matches and arrived off the back of a 3-1 win at Bristol City, controlled long stretches of the contest and came agonisingly close to a late equaliser when substitute Greg Leigh hit the post. But the hosts could not find a way past Michael Cooper and a determined visiting back line, and defeat saw them drop into the final relegation place after Watford's win over Hull City, while bottom-club United moved to within two points of city rivals Sheffield Wednesday.
Oxford set the early tempo but fail to make dominance count
Oxford began with the confidence of a side on a modest upward curve. Michal Helik set the tone with an early chance that was blocked by the visiting defence, before on-loan Tottenham forward Will Lankshear directed a header wide. In midfield, Brian De Keersmaecker quickly imposed himself, knitting play together and stepping onto loose balls around the box. From one such position on the edge of the area, his driven effort took a touch and was pushed away by Cooper as Sheffield United struggled to clear a Przemyslaw Placheta cross.