JOSH Morris’s goal won a tight game which opened up late on to inflict the first defeat of the Sky Bet League One season on Oxford United.

Scunthorpe United hardly threatened before half-time, but came on strongly after the break.

Neal Bishop hit the woodwork and Paddy Madden threatened several times, before Morris decided the game with an inch-perfect effort from 20 yards.

It was the first time the U’s had conceded in more than nine hours of league football, but it was enough to beat them.

Jack Payne and Jon Obika hit the crossbar with headers at either end of the game, but there was no way through as Pep Clotet’s side were knocked off top spot.

The big team news centred around one player not on the teamsheet.

Marvin Johnson, who is the subject of transfer interest from Hull City, was left out of the squad with what the club reported as a hamstring injury.

Rob Hall took his place in the XI, while the fit-again Kane Hemmings was named on the bench for the first time this season.

United began the day top of the table – and eight minutes in the leaders were so close to going in front again.

Ricardinho looked under pressure in his own penalty area, but the Brazilian showed great composure to turn and launch an attack.

The left back popped up on the right wing and found James Henry, whose first-time cross was met by Payne’s glancing header, which was turned on to the crossbar by Gilks.

There were grumbles among some home fans with the way the U’s settled into the game.

A patient move after a quarter of an hour ended with Hall cutting in from the right and swapping passes with Henry, but his 20-yard shot trundled wide.

Scunthorpe, beaten in the play-off semi-final last season, were still looking for their first win of the campaign and were unable to find top gear.

They struggled to exert much pressure and often made life easy for the U’s rearguard with hopeful balls forward.

It took 25 minutes for the hosts to threaten, when Josh Morris threw himself at Paddy Madden’s cross, heading wide of the near post.

U’s goalkeeper Simon Eastwood had only one nervous moment, ten minutes before the break.

Hakeeb Adelakun’s effort from the edge of the box appeared to catch a deflection, but the stopper did well to readjust and block with his legs.

Aside from Payne’s early header and pot shots from range, the visitors’ neat football yielded little in the way of clear chances.

One almost arrived five minutes after the restart, but Wes Thomas jumped too early at the back post and ended up meeting Ricardinho’s dangerous cross with his hand.

Scunthorpe then enjoyed a good spell which had the U’s pinned back.

Paddy Madden blazed over when a corner was nodded down, while he shot off target a minute later.

The striker turned provider just before the hour mark with a terrific cross with the outside of this right boot, but Tom Hopper headed the great chance wide from eight yards.

United steadied the ship, with Ledson and Ruffels shooting tricky chances over and substitute Gino van Kessel forcing a save from Gilks.

But Scunthorpe came again as the game went into the final 20 minutes.

Bishop hit the top of the crossbar with a looping effort, while Eastwood was quickly beaten again when Madden’s shot clipped Nelson and deflected inches wide of the far post.

The game really opened up late on and a quick break from United saw Henry slide a pass in for Van Kessel, who was denied by Gilks.

It felt like a goal was coming and the deadlock was broken eight minutes from time.

A break from the hosts found Morris on the right and he cut inside to curl a shot into the far corner of the net.

The winger came close to a second goal in quick succession, but Eastwood parried the firm shot from 15 yards.

It kept United in the game and in stoppage time the goalkeeper almost set up a dramatic equaliser.

Up for a 95th-minute corner, Eastwood's ambitious overhead kick looped for Obika, who headed the great chance on to the crossbar.

Scunthorpe Utd (4-4-2): Gilks, Sutton, McArdle, Wallace, Townsend, Adelakun (Holmes 67), Bishop, Ojo, Morris, Madden (Burgess 90), Van Veen (Hopper 20).

Unused subs: Watson, Mantom, Redmond, Goode.

Booked: Hopper.

Oxford Utd (4-4-2): Eastwood, Ribeiro, Nelson, Williamson, Ricardinho, Henry (Rothwell 81), Ledson, Ruffels, Hall, Payne (Van Kessel 67), Thomas (Obika 54).

Unused subs: Shearer, Carroll, Martin, Hemmings.

Booked: Ruffels, Henry.

Referee: Darren Handley (Lancashire).

Attendance: 4,205.