OXFORD United slipped to defeat in the Lancashire rain as Accrington Stanley scored either side of half-time at the Wham Stadium.

John O’Sullivan fired home after 28 minutes and Ethan Hamilton added a second in stoppage-time to give the hosts their first win of 2022 and end the U’s mini unbeaten run at four matches.

It was a disappointing performance from United, although Matty Taylor and Sam Winnall saw efforts cleared off the line during good spells either side of the break.

Taylor was inches away from connecting with a header at the far post three minutes from time, but Hamilton soon sealed victory to keep the U’s fifth in Sky Bet League One.

United made three changes from Saturday’s dramatic win over Portsmouth and one was due to tragic circumstances, as Luke McNally flew back to Ireland after a close friend passed away.

It saw the U’s revert to 4-2-3-1 as Anthony Forde made his first start since December 18 at right back.

Billy Bodin and Mark Sykes dropped to the bench as Marcus McGuane partnered Herbie Kane in midfield, with Saturday’s match-winner Nathan Holland beginning on the left wing.

Sam Baldock was on the bench for the first time since his arrival last Friday, Gavin Whyte joining him after recovering from Covid.

The U’s began on the front foot but Accrington, playing to the beat of a lone drummer in the home terrace, had the first sight of goal.

The hosts looked to utilise Mitch Clark’s long throws and one was hooked towards the back post after eight minutes, with Sean McConville heading wide.

United pushed forward and a corner took a flick off Elliott Moore’s head, before Holland went close after some intricate one-touch passing.

The winger fired in a similar effort to his winning goal against Portsmouth, only for Toby Savin to dive to his left and push the ball away.

As the rain became heavier the game started to open up and United had two chances in two minutes midway through the half.

Brannagan played in Taylor after another well-worked move and the No 9 beat Savin from a tight angle, but Ross Sykes was in the right place to clear off the line.

Tommy Leigh then did well to contort his body and head to safety after Steve Seddon flashed a header across goal, before Sykes nodded over at the other end.

Ryan Williams bent an effort wide, then Holland cut into the penalty area and sent a shot towards the far corner – only for Michael Nottingham to stick out a leg.

It proved a crucial block as Accrington took the lead in the 28th minute.

A cross was headed straight to O’Sullivan on the edge of the box and the forward fired a half-volley into Jack Stevens’ far corner.

Accrington did not sit back and were on top for the rest of the half as the contest became scrappy.

McConville spurned a great chance to make it 2-0 when a low cross found him all alone at the back post three minutes before the break, but the Stanley skipper fired wide.

The hosts went close again early in the second half when Holland was dispossessed and they moved the ball forward quickly to Korede Adedoyin, who curled an effort just wide of the far post.

Karl Robinson had a strong bench to call on and he utilised it ten minutes after the restart, with Mark Sykes and Winnall replacing McGuane and Holland.

United switched to a 4-4-2 diamond, with Kane at the base and Ryan Williams behind the front two.

Accrington continued to press high and could have doubled the lead from Moore’s loose pass, but Adedoyin could not get the ball out of his feet.

Goalscorer O’Sullivan was replaced by Rosaire Longelo just after the hour mark, before Robinson made an attacking final change.

Ciaron Brown went down injured and could not continue, with Baldock coming on for his debut in a forward-looking 3-4-3 that had Sykes and Williams as wing backs.

Big chances at both ends followed, with Adedoyin only able to steer straight at Stevens from six yards and Winnall seeing a cross-shot cleared off the line.

The substitute fired across the face of goal three minutes later as United began to ask questions of the Accrington defence. 

Their best chance of the game came three minutes from time as Sykes raced down the left and found Brannagan, who laid the ball off to Winnall 12 yards out.

The striker’s shot looped up off a defender and Taylor looked primed to head home at the far post, only for the ball to evade the striker.

Accrington continued to look dangerous on the break and ended United’s hopes in stoppage-time, Hamilton receiving a cut-back and firing low past Stevens on the edge of the box.

Accrington Stanley (3-1-4-2): Savin, Sykes, Nottingham, Amankwah, Butcher, Clark, Leigh (Pell 76), Hamilton, O’Sullivan (Longelo 63), Adedoyin, McConville.

Unused subs: Isherwood, Rodgers, Conneely, Morgan, Lewis.

Booked: Leigh, Amankwah.

Oxford United (4-2-3-1): Stevens, Forde, Moore, Brown (Baldock 67), Seddon, Kane, McGuane (Sykes 55), Williams, Brannagan, Holland (Winnall 55), Taylor.

Unused subs: Eastwood, Mousinho, Bodin, Whyte.

Booked: Williams, Brannagan.

Referee: Martin Coy (County Durham).

Attendance: TBC.