Burton Albion vs Oxford United. Sky Bet League Two.
Pirelli StadiumAttendance2,954.
Saturday 14 February 2015 18:16, UK
Burton maintained their promotion bid with a 2-0 win over struggling Oxford at the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday.
Adam McGurk gave Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's men an early lead and Lucas Akins struck late on to keep Albion hot on the heels of leaders Shrewsbury. McGurk followed up to head in from close range in the 13th minute after full-back Damien McCrory's stinging low drive looped up invitingly off U's goalkeeper Ryan Clarke. Further chances were few and far between until the 43rd minute of a scrappy first half when Burton defender Phil Edwards managed to get a toe-end to the ball to deny Johnny Mullins what looked a certain equaliser. Both sides went close in a lively start to the second half. Josh Ashby rolled a shot inches wide for the visitors and Burton defender Shane Cansdell-Sherriff had a near-post flick cleared off the line. Top scorer Danny Hylton missed a chance to pull Oxford level after 75 minutes when he steered Kemar Roofe's cross the wrong side of a post. Burton had another escape eight minutes from the end as Ashby's free-kick from the edge of the area rattled the crossbar. But Hasselbaink's side sealed victory in the 89th minute when Akins latched onto a pass from substitute Abdenasser El Khayati to drill his shot inside the near post.
