Oxford United 0, Preston 4

By Mark Edwards OXFORD United sank even deeper into the relegation mire at the Manor last night.

Despite a bright start, they were overpowered, outfought and outplayed by an impressive Preston side who moved up to second place in Division 2.

John Macken helped himself to a brace, while long-distance efforts from David Eyres and Michael Appleton compounded Oxford's misery.

And things don't look good for Mickey Lewis's men, who have now conceded 13 goals and scored none in their last four games.

But, as in Saturday's defeat at Oldham, if United had scored early on, it could have been so different.

Lewis brought in Jon Shepheard for his first league start in place of broken-leg victim Neil McGowan, and there were recalls for Joey Beauchamp and Jamie Cook at the expense of Steve Anthrobus and Derek Lilley.

All three were involved early on, with Shepheard and Cook trying their luck from distance before Beauchamp wasted a golden opportunity. He played a lovely one-two with Cook and found himself clean through on goal. But his shot lacked direction and keeper Teuvo Moilanen made a good reaction save.

From the corner, first Paul Powell, then Matt Murphy had shots blocked, before Preston broke away and Macken gave them the lead in the 16th minute.

David Eyres swung in a left-wing free-kick, Steve Basham nodded down and there was Macken, looking suspiciously offside, to tap home.

That Oxford didn't get the offside decision came as no surprise by the final whistle, with referee Alan Butler and his assistants making several diabolical decisions.

While Oxford went to sleep at a Preston corner, Eyres fired in a thumping 25-yard effort that brought a fine reaction save from U's keeper Paul Lundin.

From the follow-up, Robbie Edwards's header was hacked off the line by Phil Whelan. Nigel Jemson and Cook both had shots blocked inside the six-yard box, while at the other end, Lundin had to be at his best to deny Eyres again.

Another strange decision from the referee saw him give a corner when Appleton's shot appeared to go over the bar, and from the kick, Preston drew further ahead.

Michael Jackson's header found its way to former Manchester United-player Macken, who turned and hit a beautiful right-foot shot past Lundin into the London Road net to claim his 20th goal of the season five minutes after the break.

The big Swedish keeper was then nearly knocked out by a fierce close-range Eyres shot, before the referee contributed to his second Preston goal of the night.

Mark Watson was booked for the most innocuous of challenges and from the free-kick, Eyres lashed the ball into the back of the net. Lewis sent on Peter Fear to replace Shepheard and played Cook wide on the left, but they was still no way through the Preston defence.

United's evening was summed up when Jemson, who had an unspectacular game but was still Oxford's best outfield player, hit a powder-puff 20-yard free-kick along the ground and straight into the wall.

Whelan was shown the yellow card for dissent and United's already miserable night deteriorated further when Appleton made it four, driving in from outside the box.

The players left the pitch to a chorus of boos and chants of 'what a load of rubbish'. They will need to get this game out of their system if they are to avoid getting into even deeper trouble.

Story date: Wednesday 02 February

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