Stan Mills scores first goal of season as Oxford beat Derby

Stan Mills scored his first goal of the season as Oxford earned just their second Championship win of the campaign with a 1-0 victory over Derby at the Kassam Stadium.

But only a string of top saves from Swedish goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom prevented the Rams from falling to a much heavier defeat.

Mills struck in the 24th minute when he ran onto Brian De Keersmaecker’s fine pass and finished with a clinical shot low past Zetterstrom’s left hand.

Both league meetings between these clubs last season ended even, and Derby had drawn 1-1 in their three previous games before this one, so everything pointed towards another tight encounter.

Oxford welcomed back Northern Ireland international defender Ciaron Brown after an injury lay-off lasting more than six months.

After a cagey opening in which the teams largely cancelled each out and struggled to create openings, United suddenly carved out three good opportunities in succession in the 16th minute.

Cameron Brannagan picked out Mills with a crossfield pass, and Mills should probably have done better than see his early shot saved.

Zetterstrom followed up that block with two more excellent saves from powerful shots by De Keersmaecker as the home side piled on the pressure.

Brannagan also went close with a 30-yard drive that arrowed just over the angle of post and bar, so it was no more than the U’s deserved when Mills fired them in front.

Derby responded with a strong attack down the right and it needed a goal-saving interception from Michal Helik when Max Johnston’s low cross looked to have picked out a teammate.

From the corner, Andreas Weimann hit a fierce drive from outside the box that deflected over the bar.

But it was Oxford who finished the first half the stronger, and in stoppage time, following a long throw by Will Vaulks, Zetterstrom once again came to his side’s rescue, superbly saving Helik’s close-range volley.

The second half continued in the same vein, as the Derby keeper blocked an effort from Nik Prelec after he cut inside a defender, and then saved Brannagan’s low shot at his near post when the midfielder met Mills’ cutback sweetly.

But the home side were also becoming wasteful in front of goal, with Vaulks scooping the ball over the bar when teed up nicely.

Brodie Spence directed a glancing header wide and the Rams clearly sensed that United’s wastefulness was giving them a chance. They built attacks with increasing belief, and Carlton Morris almost finished one off with an angled drive narrowly past Jamie Cumming’s far post.

In added time Morris volleyed over at a corner but Oxford had fully deserved all three points.