MARCUS Browne showed he could be an option for Oxford United as a striker as they came from behind to beat Blackpool.

The U’s had missed out on bringing in a centre forward on deadline day, but the Middlesbrough loanee was outstanding.

After the hosts conceded a sloppy opener to Gary Madine early on, Browne’s shot hit Mark Sykes and went in to quickly deliver an equaliser.

There was no doubt about United’s second goal, Browne showing his class from a tight angle five minutes before the break.

The home side spurned chances to increase their lead after the break, which led to an uncomfortable finish.

Madine hit the post in stoppage-time to let the hosts off the hook, but they held on to deliver a first Sky Bet League One victory of 2020 and narrow the gap to the play-off places.

The sale of Shandon Baptiste and Tariqe Fosu on deadline day accounted for half of the four changes to United’s starting line-up.

Jamie Mackie and Elliott Moore also made way, but there were returns for James Henry and Cameron Brannagan, while John Mousinho and Nathan Holland also started.

Browne was deployed as a centre forward – and United’s belief the loanee’s pace would cause problems took just 40 seconds to materialise.

He raced past a flagging Jordan Thorniley, who was booked for a trip.

United made a bright start, but their over-eagerness proved costly in the tenth minute.

They were put on the back foot by a poor kick from Simon Eastwood and the door was flung open when Josh Ruffels and John Mousinho went for the same ball.

The teammates ended up tackling each other, allowing the veteran Madine to turn an exposed Rob Dickie inside-out and slot into the net.

It was a nightmare start, but United trailed for only eight minutes.

Blackpool left Sam Long all alone on the right flank and the full back made the most of the space to whip in a dangerous ball. Ruffels’s touch fell for Browne, whose shot deflected in off Sykes.

Both could argue it was their goal, but the key was United were level.

While a strong breeze made life difficult, the hosts looked the more dangerous side.

They perhaps should have had a man advantage nine minutes before the break. Referee Josh Smith allowed a full-blooded challenge from Jay Spearing, before Marc Bola launched in on Sykes.

It sparked a melee, but when tempers calmed Bola avoided a dismissal. He was cautioned, along with Brannagan, who was punished for his part in the resulting fracas.

Dickie was unable to divert the ball on target from Henry’s free-kick, but four minutes later a set piece from almost an identical position was converted.

United’s top-scorer swung in a dangerous ball which fell to Browne beyond the back post. He took time to weigh up the situation, before curling the ball into the top corner past a defender on the line.

The hosts had a penalty appeal on Long turned down, before the final action of the half saw Holland have a shot well parried by Chris Maxwell.

A break appeared to benefit Blackpool who, with the wind now at their backs, started the second half on the front foot.

United though carved out the better chances, as Browne continued to wreak havoc.

Just before the hour he came out on top against two defenders, but from his pass Holland fired wide left-footed from 12 yards.

Within a minute Henry had to clear off the line at the other end to deny Ben Heneghan’s header as Blackpool threatened an equaliser.

Back came United and Maxwell denied Brannagan and Browne in the space of a minute.

It remained a slender lead, though, and in tricky conditions for defenders the hosts looked nervy at times.

Blackpool were inches away from an equaliser 12 minutes from time when Liam Feeney’s shot hit Madine and bounced just wide.

United inched their way towards victory, but appeared to throw it away in the 95th minute.

An awful backpass from Ruffels went straight to Madine, who had plenty of time but with only Eastwood to beat hit the outside of the post.

Oxford Utd (4-3-3): Eastwood, Long, Dickie, Mousinho, Ruffels, Henry (Kelly 78), Gorrin, Brannagan, Sykes (Thorne 90), Browne, Holland (Mackie 86).

Unused subs: Stevens, Moore, Hanson, Taylor.

Booked: Brannagan, Gorrin.

Blackpool (3-5-2): Maxwell, Turton, Heneghan, Thorniley, Feeney, Spearing (Virtue 76), Dewsbury-Hall, Ronan (Delfouneso 72), Bola, Madine, Gnanduillet (Nuttall 82).

Unused subs: Howe, Scannell, Ward, Sims.

Booked: Thorniley, Bola.

Referee: Josh Smith (Lincolnshire).

Attendance: 7,525 (476 visitors).