West Brom climbed back into the Championship play-off places with a 2-0 home win over goal-shy Oxford.
Former Oxford loan midfielder Alex Mowatt’s 11th-minute goal and substitute John Swift’s strike deep into second-half stoppage time returned Tony Mowbray’s side to winning ways and moved them up to fifth.
Albion should have won more comfortably after Oxford goalkeeper Jamie Cumming denied Adam Armstrong, Jayson Molumby and Mowatt and the hosts wasted chances galore.
Oxford, now six games without a win, have not scored in their last four matches and sit eight points clear of the relegation zone.
Albion, who had lost to Blackburn and drawn with Millwall in their last two outings, threatened when Semi Ajayi headed well wide from Isaac Price’s corner.
And Mowbray’s side took a deserved lead with a well-worked goal.
Molumby started the move with a forward pass to Price, who found Mowatt with a sublime ball that took out Ciaron Brown and Joe Bennett before the midfielder slotted low past Cumming from six yards.
It was the 30-year-old’s sixth goal of the season and against the club where he spent the 2017-18 season on loan from Barnsley.
Armstrong should then have done better than firing wildly over 25 yards out.
Molumby sent a diving header straight at Cumming then Ajayi glanced over the bar when Torbjorn Heggem, flying in behind him, would have been the better option from Mikey Johnston’s cross.
Armstrong was denied a spectacular goal when his full-blooded volley drew a diving save from Cumming after Michal Helik headed away Mowatt’s deep pass.
Oxford’s only real effort came in the 47th minute when Przemyslaw Placheta cut inside and rifled a curling effort well over.
Armstrong wasted two chances, first missing the ball from Callum Styles’ cross then curling a free-kick narrowly over.
Winger Matt Phillips – back at the Hawthorns for the first time since leaving last summer – was warmly applauded as he was substituted for Stanley Mills in the 64th minute.
Mowatt’s swerving 30-yard effort was kept out by Cumming’s flying one-handed save.
Albion substitute Mason Holgate headed over from Tom Fellows’ cross then Price scooped the ball over as the hosts dominated.
Darnell Furlong failed to covert Styles’ cross as he fell at the far post.
The game was stopped in the 87th minute for around five minutes with what appeared to be a medical emergency in the Birmingham Road End, which was seemingly resolved.
Play resumed with nine minutes added on, and it was in the 11th extra minute that Swift tapped into an empty net from the edge of the box to finally seal victory.
It came after substitute Tammer Bany sent the forward through following an Oxford corner, with Cumming stranded hopelessly upfield having gone up for the set-piece.
[(Djurgardens IF) Strength]: 1. August Priske scored 7 goals in the league this season, showing impressive performances.2. Djurgardens IF won 6-1 over BK Hacken in the last away game, performing excellently.3. Djurgardens IF won the last 2 home games smoothly, revealing decent home form.4. Djurgardens IF scored 13 goals in the last 5 games, averaging nearly 3 goals per game and showing hot offense...
[(Club America) Strength]: 1. Club America lost to Real Salt Lake through a penalty shootout in the last game, securing only one point. If the team want to advance, they have to go all out in this game, indicating strong motivation.2. Erick Sanchez scored an equalizer before the end of the last game, helping the team draw with Real Salt Lake in regular time.[(Club America) Neutral]: 1. Club Americ...
[(Fluminense (RJ)) Strength]: 1. Fluminense (RJ) are 13th in the table and are suffering a 4-game losing streak in the league. They need to take points to end their decadence, indicating strong motivation in this game.2. Everaldo Stum scored a brace in the last Copa do Brasil game, helping the team beat SC Internacional.3. Fluminense (RJ) secured a 2-1 win over SC Internacional in the last Copa do...
[(Orlando City) Strength]: 1. Martin Ojeda scored 3 goals and made an assist in the last 3 games, showing outstanding form.2. Orlando City boasted stable offense lately, scoring in 17 consecutive games in regular time.[(Orlando City) Neutral]: 1. Both sides have never met before, and this game would be their first encounter.[(Orlando City) Weakness]: 1. Orlando City lost 4-3 through a penalty shoo...
[(Yunnan Yukun) Strength]: 1. Yunnan Yukun are 9th in the Chinese Super League, performing mediocrely in the new season. They hope to take more points at home to move up, indicating strong motivation.2. Yunnan Yukun received 5 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses in 8 home games, with a win rate of 62.5%.3. Yunnan Yukun won 3-1 over Shenzhen Peng City in the last home game, securing a 2-game winning streak ...
[(JEF United Ichihara Chiba) Strength]: 1. JEF United Ichihara Chiba are 2nd in the J2 League with 41 points, still being in the direct promotion zone but tied for 3rd-placed Vegalta Sendai on points. They need more points to cement their place, showing strong motivation in this home game.2. JEF United Ichihara Chiba recorded 6 wins, 2 draws, and 3 losses at home this season, scoring 17 goals and ...
[(Arminia Bielefeld) Strength]: 1. Arminia Bielefeld finished at the top with 21 wins, 9 draws, and 8 losses in the 3. Liga last season, scoring 64 goals and conceding 36 in 38 league games. The team were finally promoted to the 2. Bundesliga. This is their first home game of the new season, so the team have full motivation.2. Arminia Bielefeld's central forward Julian Kania played 33 league games...
[(SV Elversberg) Strength]: 1. SV Elversberg finished 3rd in the 2. Bundesliga last season. Facing Nuremberg in the first game of the new season at home, they hope to take home advantage to start with a win, indicating strong motivation.2. SV Elversberg changed their head coach in the new season, with German Vincent Wagner taking over to lead the team to play in the 2. Bundesliga. The team signed ...
[(FC Rostov) Neutral]: 1. FC Rostov ended 8 of the last 10 competitive games with UNDERs in O/U.[(FC Rostov) Weakness]: 1. FC Rostov lost 2-0 to Spartak Moscow in the last Russian Cup game, showing poor performances.2. FC Rostov suffered a 1-0 away defeat to FC Dynamo Moscow in the last league game, losing the previous two league matches in the new season.3. FC Rostov received only 1 win, 2 draws,...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Farewell SonBreaking!! : Son confirms decision to leave Tottenham Newcastle reject 120m offer from Liverpool for Isak Rashford and Barca Raya nair Gyokeres at Arsenal FC lol Where's Isak? Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, FootballLaughss)...
- 1 Phil Parkinson breaks silence on Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's shock bid to bring ex-Man Utd star Christian Eriksen to Wrexham
- 2 Loris Karius lifts lid on relationship with Diletta Leotta
- 3 Jack Grealish shares sweet holiday snaps as girlfriend stuns in a yellow maxi dress
- 4 Arsenal legend backs Premier League rivals to become next invincibles and take prestigious title from Gunners
- 5 Go Ahead Eagles star duo linked to Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers
- 6 Real Madrid Willing to Sell Rodrygo — But Only If Two Key Conditions Are Met
- 7 Man City boss Guardiola delivers definitive answer to Barcelona return question
- 8 Borussia Dortmund chief Kehl confirms hopes of re-signing Sancho from Man Utd
- 9 Daily Laugh - Sesko & Man Utd in a nutshell
- 10 Transfer news & rumours LIVE