Siriki Dembele struck eight minutes from time to give Oxford a crucial 1-0 victory over 10-man Watford and their first win in 10 Championship matches.
The winger fired home right-footed from 10 yards after referee Bobby Madley played a good advantage when Mark Harris was fouled.
It was Dembele’s first goal for the club and came just three minutes after Watford had James Abankwah sent off for a second bookable offence when he fouled Przemy Placheta.
The result is a blow to the Hornets’ hopes of reaching the play-offs but it was an afternoon when they just did not have their shooting boots on – firing a succession of efforts high or wide.
In a largely scrappy encounter at a windy Kassam Stadium, there was plenty of endeavour on show from both sides but not a great deal of quality.
Oxford boss Gary Rowett made five changes to the side that lost 2-1 at Hull on Wednesday, with Ben Nelson, Cameron Brannagan and Dembele among those returning.
With Sheffield United, Leeds and Sunderland due to come to the Kassam Stadium in the remaining five home matches, the U’s knew this was a massive fixture in their hopes of avoiding relegation.
It was an open encounter at the start with Tom Ince having an early effort from 20 yards deflect over the bar and United’s Polish winger Placheta firing wide from a similar distance after bursting past a defender.
The home side closed down well and were quick in the tackle all over the pitch to make it difficult for the Hornets although Giorgi Chakvetadze did go close for them with a 25-yard free-kick over the wall.
Moussa Sissoko managed to run behind the home defence but keeper Jamie Cumming did enough to put him off his shot, and Tom Dele-Bashiru hit a fierce drive straight into Cumming’s chest.
At the other end, centre-half Nelson met Brannagan’s corner with a powerful header but directed it a yard over the bar.
A lot of the play was bitty, and twice visiting keeper Egil Selvik made awkward clearances from back passes when put under pressure.
Watford finished the first half strongly, with Cumming saving from Francisco Sierralta’s header and Ince’s low shot.
Placeta created an opening at the start of the second half with a right-wing cross that Dembele controlled skillfully only to stab his shot wide from beyond the far post.
Edo Kayembe blazed over but he was not alone as two of his Hornets teammates then also fired wide.
Watford brought on Vakoun Bayo midway through the second half to try to get a breakthrough – but it was Dembele who found it at the other end.
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