Gary Rowett felt his players showed a surprising lack of motivation as Oxford lost 2-1 at fellow Sky Bet Championship strugglers Hull.
Goalkeeper Jamie Cumming’s own goal was the key moment when he allowed Gustavo Puerto’s weak strike on the left byline to rebound off his right shin and into the net at his near post after 76 minutes.
Rowett said: “We had some really good moments, but it just felt like we gifted them the two goals.
“That’s why I’m so annoyed with the performance.
“It’s tough to take. This is one of the very few times that I’ve been angry with the players.
“With a team fighting for their lives, it felt like we didn’t quite want to win the game enough.”
Oxford have not won in nine Championship games and are now just four points clear of the relegation zone.
But that frustrating run of form looked to have reached an end when Michal Helik brilliantly volleyed home Matt Phillips’ corner after 66 minutes.
Hull, however, finally translated their greater possession into an equalising goal after Joe Gelhardt nicely converted Kacey Palmer’s through-ball seven minutes later.
Cumming’s dreadful mistake then proved decisive, after which Puerto was shown a second yellow card with an alleged dive in stoppage time.
Rowett said: “The two goals were so bad and that’s why I’m so annoyed with the performance as they didn’t look like they had enough to open us up.
“We started poorly and was a little bit passive. We grew into the game but I expected more fire about us.
“To go 1-0 up and, in a flick of a switch, go 2-1 down is tough to take.
“The frustration is that it was not as if we were under massive amounts of pressure – far from it.
“What you can’t accept is two soft goals and we didn’t fight for our lives to protect our win.
“At some point, someone’s gone to step up. We’ve had so many opportunities in recent games to put the hammer down and win.
“But we can’t just wait for other teams to lose. Getting into the position we did so quickly (in Rowett’s early days as Oxford manager), maybe we felt we had already done enough.”
Hull still have work to do to avert the threat of the relegation, but they have lost once in their last six games and are now above Oxford in the table.
Head coach Ruben Selles said: “It was a difficult game, but we deserved to win.
“We started well and then we missed a few passes and they grew into the game.
“We had to work hard but we got the victory and the performance and that was the most important thing.
“I’m happy, but I’m not surprised. What we did last week (the 1-1 draw at Bristol City with 10 men) showed us where we are as a team right now.
“We managed to come back and do it in a proper way. And when you do that, the points come when you are ready to go and take them.
“The important thing is the feeling and sensation to show that we can compete against anybody.”
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Every season Arsenal must sign at least one Chelsea player Arsenal Striker now Raya.... Latin/South American Teams are UNBEATEN After the First Round of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup! Lamine Yamal is spending his S̶c̶h̶o̶o̶l̶ Holidays with 30-year-old Spanish influencer Fati Vazquez… Relegation Zone Club – Manchester United will face THREE o...
Marcus Rashford wants to miss Manchester United's summer tour of America in favour of finding himself a new club.Ruben Amorim's squad are due to travel America next month to ramp up their pre-season preparations. But Rashford is desperate to avoid going if he has not secured an exit from Old Trafford, and will tell club bosses he wants to remain in England to resolve his future.It's understood Amo...
Liverpool are reportedly set to table a 'significant' offer for Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi. The defender has just one year left on his contract at Selhurst Park and is therefore expected to be on the move this summer.Guehi has been heavily linked with a move away from the Eagles over the past few seasons, with Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham all showing an interest in acquiring the services o...
Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min could soon be exiting the north London club.Once part of a formidable partnership with Harry Kane, there is no question the South Korea international's powers appeared to have waned last season.Thankfully, after an almost 10-year association with Tottenham, Son finally marked his time at the club with a trophy last season, lifting the Europa League under dep...
Maresca reveals if Chelsea will sign a replacement for MudrykChelsea boss Enzo Maresca has revealed whether the Blues will sign a replacement for Mykhailo Mudryk after the winger's doping charges."We had already one entire season almost without Misha last season. We tried to find different solutions with some of the academy players like Tyrique [George]."But we're going to decide to go for a winge...
Liverpool join race to sign Crystal Palace star Marc GuehiLiverpool have reportedly joined the race to sign Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi as they seek to bolster their back line this summer.The 24-year-old is widely expected to leave the FA Cup holders this summer with his contract set to expire at the end of next season.According to the Daily Mail, Liverpool are now looking to sign a new cent...
Arsenal to pay ABOVE Martin Zubimendi release clauseArsenal will have to pay above the €60m release clause in Martin Zubimendi's Real Sociedad contract to get the deal done this summer.The 26-year-old has been in talks with Arsenal over a move from Spain to North London for the past six months and it’s now reaching Its climax.Personal terms were agreed some time ago but the clubs have ...
Lionel Messi celebrates his free kickLionel Messi’s 50th Inter Miami goal in only his 61st appearance for the club sealed a 2-1 comeback win over FC Porto in their FIFA Club World Cup Group A clash, securing a first-ever victory in the competition.Both sides contested goalless draws in their respective opening matches, but the deadlock was broken after only eight minutes in Atlanta through a...
Man City handed Premier League fine ahead of 115 charges verdictMan City have been slapped with a 3800k fine by the Premier League for repeated late kick-offs as they await the verdict for their alleged 115 charges.Pep Guardiola’s side have been fined approximately 3800,000 after admitting to nine breaches of Premier League Rule L.33, which governs punctuality for kick-offs and second-half r...
Man United set to miss out on goalkeeper target after Napoli talksMan United look set to miss out on one of their reported goalkeeping targets with Vanja Milinkovic-Savic in talks with Serie A champions Napoli.United had been heavily linked with the 28-year-old with current number one Andre Onana failing to convince since his move back in 2023.According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Milinkovic...
- 1 DONE DEAL: Marseille confirm CJ Egan-Riley signing from Burnley
- 2 Chloe Kelly enjoys sun-kissed holiday as Arsenal star rests before Euro 2025
- 3 Jack Grealish set to leave Man City this summer
- 4 Man Utd have Hugo Ekitike 'advantage'
- 5 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 6 Stunning Euro U21 reporter dubbed 'queen of Europe' in bold dress
- 7 Man Utd make decision on replacing Andre Onana with Emi Martinez this summer
- 8 PSG vs Atletico Madrid Prediction 16 June 2025
- 9 DONE DEAL: Celta Vigo sign permanently Ilaix from RB Leipzig
- 10 Laura Woods gives update on post-pregnancy body