Oxford Dampen Owls Mood with Hillsborough Victory

Stricken Sheffield Wednesday were given a reminder of their on-pitch difficulties as Oxford United hung on to claim a narrow 2-1 victory at Hillsborough.

One day after Wednesday went into administration and were handed an immediate 12-point deduction by the English Football League, the Championship’s bottom club slipped to a fourth straight defeat.

And despite playing in front of their highest crowd of the season, 27,261, it was a sixth loss in seven home matches at a venue where they have won only once since New Year’s Day.

First-half goals from Will Lankshear and a Cameron Brannagan free-kick allowed the U’s to record a second victory in three games to move them four points clear of the bottom three as they climb one place to 19th.

Sean Fusire halved the deficit early in the second period and Jamal Lowe missed a big chance to equalise as Wednesday remain stuck on minus six points and now 16 points from safety.

Despite the traumatic events on Friday, the mood around the south Yorkshire club was lifted by the sheer fact that administration effectively spells the end of Dejphon Chansiri’s ownership.

Wednesday fans had gone to increasingly desperate lengths to voice their discontent at how the club was being run, before it culminated in thousands staying away to boycott the defeat by Middlesbrough on Wednesday.

Owls supporters flocked back for this game and were busy buying pies and pints in the kiosks around the ground and spending cash in the club’s megastore.

But the opening 45 minutes were a sobering reminder of why they were already bottom of the division before the 12 points were knocked off.

Joe Lumley had already made a decent save from Filip Krastev’s drive before he was beaten by Lankshear’s header as Brannagan’s ball into the box caused problems for the Owls defence.

Bailey Cadamarteri had one effort saved by Jamie Cumming but a second goal for the visitors was more likely and the skipper provided it with one of his brilliant set-pieces.

At least 30 yards out, Brannagan caught everyone by surprise as, rather than float one in, he ran up and drilled it low past Lumley for his third of the season.

However diminished their playing ranks may be, Wednesday’s spirit under Henrik Pedersen cannot be questioned and they showed that in the second period.

They were given a lifeline seven minutes after the break as 20-year-old Fusire drove a loose ball into the net for his first senior goal after Harry Amass’ cross was not properly cleared.

Cadamarteri was close to sliding in Svante Ingelsson’s low cross, Amass had a header saved by Cumming before Lowe had the best chance to make it 2-2 minutes before the end.

A ball dropped for him about 10 yards out but he volleyed it straight at the goalkeeper as the Kop waited to celebrate behind the goal, thus denying a grandstand ending to cap a never-to-be-forgotten week.