Matt Bloomfield left relieved as Oxford beat West Brom in relegation battle

Oxford boss Matt Bloomfield felt great relief after the 2-1 victory over West Brom in a crucial Championship relegation battle at the Kassam Stadium.

Stan Mills headed Oxford in front in the 14th minute from Jamie Donley’s corner and Will Lankshear nodded in a Cameron Brannagan free-kick from six yards 12 minutes later.

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 goalkeeper 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.

Bloomfield said: “I think it’s just a big relief.

“We wanted to get the first win (under me) at home, we wanted to get our first goals at home, and share a moment with our supporters and give them a lift with a league result that really puts us back in touch.

“The six minutes of stoppage time felt like a long time, and then they found another 20 seconds.

“All week I have been playing down the importance of this game. We just need to keep playing the games the way we want to play them – and be spot on tactically.

“It’s just one result, and we want to be hungry for more. We hope it’s a springboard for more.

“To get two goals ahead and then concede one, it was never going to be a comfortable second half.

“It felt the energy had come out a bit and what our substitutions enabled us to do was play a bit higher up the pitch. We showed our true character in that second half.”

West Brom’s interim manager James Morrison felt let down by his players.

He said: “We have to get real. I do feel let down by them.

“Maybe we’re not as good as we think we are – maybe that’s why we are where we are. You get what you deserve.

“We gave them two goals. I understand the criticism from our fans – they have every right to have a go at us, they’re passionate about this club.

“The game started OK, we were putting pressure on them, and then the story of the season – we give them two goals.

“We said beforehand that set plays are big for them, but we just let it happen so that was very disappointing – and the manner of them.

“For the first one we had a throw-in, easily lost possession and we gave it away – that was the first corner. Defending that set play, my big centre half – where is he? It’s in his zone, go and head it.

“The second one we give away a free-kick, and what happens, the ball in the box, the goalkeeper doesn’t come to collect it, in the six-yard box – what chance have you got in a big game like this?

“I’m hurting inside – the manner of it, how big a game it was and to not have the personality around the box. We brought on an 18-year-old and he was the one who did the most damage.

“Maybe we’ve got to put out the biggest side we can put out and play for set plays – I don’t see any other way.

“I didn’t feel any threat in general play, it was just their threat from set plays.”