MACKIE UP TO SPEED

Oxford Utd 2 Plymouth 0

SHAUN DERRY heaped the praise on Jamie Mackie as Oxford leapfrogged Plymouth.

Mackie opened the scoring in the fourth minute and made the second for defender Curtis Nelson (right).

Plymouth ended the game with 10 men after Yann Songo’o was sent off 10 minutes from time. The first-team coach, Derry, said: “It was great to have a fit Jamie Mackie because he’s experienced, but has only been 50 or 60 per cent most of the time.

“By his own admission he’d not had a full pre-season, but he’s now finding his fitness.”

Plymouth manager Derek Adams said: “They were more streetwise than us, and, in Jamie Mackie and Ricky Holmes, had more experience in important areas. “We are at a difficult stage and I understand why our supporters are not happy. The effort was there, but the way we played wasn’t good enough.”