CIARON Brown’s first Oxford United goal proved enough for a laboured victory over Sky Bet League One basement boys Crewe Alexandra.

The Cardiff City loanee had been on the pitch just nine minutes when he fired home after a scramble in the penalty area to keep the U’s fourth in the table.

Until that point, League One’s highest scorers had struggled to convert possession into clear chances and almost went behind when Christopher Long struck the crossbar early in the second half.

But Brown proved an unlikely hero as United secured back-to-back wins and claimed successive clean sheets for the first time since last March.

Karl Robinson decided not to alter a winning team as he named the same starting XI for the first time since last April, when United beat Crewe and Shrewsbury Town.

The hosts made two changes, with Dan Agyei keeping his place on the right wing as he faced the club he left just 25 days ago.

The Mornflake Stadium pitch was not in the best condition, but the U’s stuck to their passing game as they controlled the early stages of the contest.

United scored four excellent goals at Charlton Athletic on Saturday and almost had another only 60 seconds in, with Herbie Kane firing just wide from 25 yards.

Crewe were jittery at the back and the U’s fashioned two chances by winning the ball high up the pitch in the first eight minutes.

First, Matty Taylor fired wide from a tight angle after nipping in to steal possession, before Cameron Brannagan saw a shot from 20 yards deflected behind.

The on-pitch action became a sideshow in the 11th minute as U’s fans applauded and sang Joey Beauchamp’s name, with some of the home support joining in.

Taylor then headed over from Brannagan’s cross, but United did not create another chance of note until late in the half.

The next opportunity fell Crewe’s way as Stevens gifted Agyei possession on the edge of the box. The former U’s midfielder cut inside to shoot and the goalkeeper beat it away.

The hosts were forced into a first-half change when Josh Lundstram replaced the injured Tariq Uwakwe in the 31st minute, before Stevens pushed clear an Agyei cross moments later.

A host of injury breaks meant six minutes of stoppage-time were added on, just as Taylor shot wide from 20 yards with options either side.

A better opportunity fell Sam Baldock’s way moments later, but he could not keep his half-volley down after receiving Brannagan’s cut-back.

United needed more composure in the final third but Crewe had the first chance after the break, with Agyei heading wide.

The U’s almost suffered a double blow ten minutes into the half when Elliott Moore injured himself blocking a cross, Brown replacing him, with Christopher Long firing against the crossbar from the resulting corner.

It was part of a sluggish start to the second period from United, who saw Taylor and Kane booked and looked defensively unconvincing themselves.

They hardly deserved to be ahead, but the all-important goal came from an unlikely source.

Taylor’s cross-shot was blocked and a goalmouth scramble ensued, with Baldock almost turning the ball home before Brown hooked into the net from six yards.

The U’s could have had another when Williams broke from a corner and fed Whyte, who nutmegged one defender only for another to slide in just as he shaped to shoot.

The Northern Ireland international then drew a smart save from David Richards when he latched on to Taylor’s cross, before Marcus McGuane replaced Baldock for United.

Crewe responded with a double change as Rekeem Harper and Connor Salisbury replaced Regan Griffiths and Bassala Sambou, but the U’s kept pushing.

McGuane showed lovely feet to lose his man and play in Brannagan, with the midfielder firing inches wide of the far post.

Harper fired over after a late Agyei cross created brief panic in the United box, before Christopher Long lashed wide following Ryan Williams’ miscued clearance – but the visitors held on.

Crewe Alexandra (4-3-3): Richards, Johnson, O’Riordan, Offord, Uwakwe (Lundstram 31), Lowery, Ainley, Griffiths (Harper 76), Agyei, Long, Sambou (Salisbury 76).

Unused subs: Jaaskelainen, Finney, Murphy, Lawton.

Booked: Offord, Lowery.

Oxford United (3-4-1-2): Stevens, McNally, Moore (Brown 55), Long, Sykes, Kane, Brannagan, Williams, Whyte, Taylor (Seddon 90+2), Baldock (McGuane 74).

Unused subs: Eastwood, Forde, Holland, Winnall.

Booked: Taylor, Kane.

Referee: Scott Oldham (Lancashire).

Attendance: 3,968 (648 visitors).