Oxford beat managerless West Brom in crunch relegation battle

Oxford scored twice from set pieces in the first half as they beat managerless West Brom 2-1 in a tense Championship relegation clash at the Kassam Stadium.

Stan Mills headed them in front in the 14th minute from Jamie Donley’s corner, arching back to guide the ball beautifully into the top-left corner.

That was Oxford’s first goal at home in more than nine hours – since Boxing Day – and they added another 12 minutes later when Will Lankshear nodded in a Cameron Brannagan free-kick from six yards which goalkeeper Max O’Leary maybe should have come for.

But substitute Ollie Bostock pulled a goal back for Albion after 33 minutes with a 25-yard shot that took a big deflection off Sam Long to leave keeper Jamie Cumming helpless.

The visitors had plenty of the ball in the second half as they strove for an equaliser, but Oxford held on for a vital three points in their bid to beat the drop.

West Brom had James Morrison in interim charge following the midweek sacking of Eric Ramsay after just nine games.

Ramsay was shown the door in the wake of the 1-1 draw at home to Charlton that left the West Midlands outfit just a point above the relegation places.

For Morrison, 39, it is the third time he has stepped up to take charge.

Both teams were without key centre halves, Michal Helik coming in at late notice to replace Christ Makosso for the U’s while the visitors continued to be without Nat Phillips through injury.

Earlier results had gone in favour of both these clubs, with Portsmouth, Blackburn and Leicester all falling to lunchtime defeats.

It was the Baggies who started the brighter, forcing a succession of corners in the opening minutes, all of them well defended.

Oxford did start putting together some promising moves, however, and Donley won the corner which brought the opening goal, with a shot that deflected over the bar.

Scoring twice in quick succession left many home fans in shock but Bostock’s deflected strike brought them back to earth, and gave Albion some hope.

The importance of the game added to the nervousness of both sets of players, and defensive mistakes continued.

Striker Josh Maja had a header comfortably saved at the start of the second half as Albion began to dominate possession.

U’s head coach Matt Bloomfield made a triple substitution midway through the second half to try to regain more control, and the move worked.

The Baggies had a great opportunity to level five minutes from time but Krystian Bielik planted his header wide from Alex Mowatt’s free-kick.

Oxford held on to secure three vital points and their first home win since Bloomfield took charge.