Oxford United 2-1 Scunthorpe United

On-loan Watford forward Jerome Sinclair scored his first goals for Oxford to see off Scunthorpe and earn a vital three points in their bid to beat the drop from League One.

Substitute George Thomas pulled one back for the visitors in stoppage time but could not prevent the U's notching back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.

Scunthorpe were quickly out of the blocks with Funso Ojo having a low shot saved in the first minute.

But that was as good as it got in a drab first half, with the home side's best opportunity squandered by a heavy touch from Mark Sykes when Sinclair played him through.

After the break Scunthorpe's Olufela Olomola sent an 18-yard drive fizzing past the far post.

But Oxford had more attacking zip when Gavin Whyte came off the bench and Sinclair took full advantage, first heading in a left-wing cross from Sykes in the 65th minute.

He escaped his marker again to head home John Mousinho's classy cross in the 80th minute, before Thomas turned in Tom Pearce's centre late on.

Oxford climb a place to 19th in the table but remain two points above the bottom four after Bristol Rovers won.

Report supplied by the Press Association.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Oxford Utd

• 1Eastwood
• 23Long
• 4Dickie
• 5Nelson
• 3GarbuttSubstituted forWhyteat 59'minutes
• 14Ruffels
• 15Mousinho
• 24Sykes
• 17Henry
• 18GrahamSubstituted forBrowneat 85'minutes
• 9SinclairSubstituted forMackieat 90+2'minutes

Substitutes

• 6Hanson
• 10Browne
• 11Carruthers
• 16Whyte
• 19Mackie
• 27Stevens
• 38Smith

Scunthorpe

• 25Alnwick
• 21BurgessBooked at 55mins
• 26McGahey
• 23McArdle
• 22SuttonBooked at 53minsSubstituted forLewisat 67'minutes
• 6Ojo
• 14Perch
• 16Pearce
• 24OlomolaSubstituted forThomasat 73'minutes
• 17NovakSubstituted forvan Veenat 73'minutes
• 29Wootton

Substitutes

• 10van Veen
• 15Lewis
• 18Thomas
• 19Ben El-Mhanni
• 27Flatt
• 33Butroid
• 47Hammill

Referee:

Michael Salisbury

Attendance:

6,237

Match Stats

Home TeamOxford UtdAway TeamScunthorpe

Possession

Home53%

Away47%

Shots

Home4

Away11

Shots on Target

Home2

Away6

Corners

Home3

Away4

Fouls

Home13

Away13

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Oxford United 2, Scunthorpe United 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+7'

Second Half ends, Oxford United 2, Scunthorpe United 1.

Posted at 90'+6'

Foul by Kevin van Veen (Scunthorpe United).

Posted at 90'+6'

Gavin Whyte (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+6'

Attempt blocked. Kevin van Veen (Scunthorpe United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.

Posted at 90'+4'

Foul by Kyle Wootton (Scunthorpe United).

Posted at 90'+4'

Mark Sykes (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Goal!

Posted at 90'+2'

Goal! Oxford United 2, Scunthorpe United 1. George Thomas (Scunthorpe United) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal.

Substitution

Posted at 90'+2'

Substitution, Oxford United. Jamie Mackie replaces Jerome Sinclair.

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Marcus Browne (Oxford United).

Posted at 90'+1'

Harrison McGahey (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 88'

Delay in match Robert Dickie (Oxford United) because of an injury.

Posted at 87'

James Perch (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 87'

Foul by John Mousinho (Oxford United).

Substitution

Posted at 85'

Substitution, Oxford United. Marcus Browne replaces Jordan Graham.

Posted at 83'

Foul by Kevin van Veen (Scunthorpe United).

Posted at 83'

Robert Dickie (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Goal!

Posted at 80'

Goal! Oxford United 2, Scunthorpe United 0. Jerome Sinclair (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by John Mousinho with a cross.

Posted at 80'

Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Rory McArdle.

Posted at 75'

Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Rory McArdle.

Posted at 74'

Attempt saved. Kevin van Veen (Scunthorpe United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

Posted at 74'

Kevin van Veen (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 74'

Foul by Robert Dickie (Oxford United).

Substitution

Posted at 73'

Substitution, Scunthorpe United. George Thomas replaces Olufela Olomola.

Substitution

Posted at 73'

Substitution, Scunthorpe United. Kevin van Veen replaces Lee Novak.

Posted at 73'

Rory McArdle (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 73'

Foul by Jerome Sinclair (Oxford United).

Posted at 71'

James Perch (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 71'

Foul by Mark Sykes (Oxford United).

Posted at 69'

Corner, Scunthorpe United. Conceded by Sam Long.

Substitution

Posted at 67'

Substitution, Scunthorpe United. Clayton Lewis replaces Levi Sutton.

Goal!

Posted at 65'

Goal! Oxford United 1, Scunthorpe United 0. Jerome Sinclair (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mark Sykes with a cross.

Posted at 62'

Foul by John Mousinho (Oxford United).

Posted at 62'

Levi Sutton (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 60'

Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Tom Pearce.

Substitution

Posted at 59'

Substitution, Oxford United. Gavin Whyte replaces Luke Garbutt.

Posted at 59'

Attempt missed. Olufela Olomola (Scunthorpe United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left.

Posted at 56'

Attempt missed. Levi Sutton (Scunthorpe United) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.

Posted at 55'

Attempt missed. Luke Garbutt (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a set piece situation.

Posted at 55'

Attempt blocked. Luke Garbutt (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

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