MAGUIRE DOES THE BUSINESS
OXFORD United boss Michael Appleton was delighted after Chris Maguire’s stoppage time winner brought an end to Bradford’s unbeaten start to the season.
In a tight game devoid of many clear cut chances, Maguire angled a last-minute free-kick into the bottom lefthand corner of Colin Doyle's net.
Appleton said: “If you give yourself an opportunity by staying in the game, you’ve always got a chance of getting a winner.
“We’ve got last minute winners a few times this season which is always a nice thing.
“Keeping clean sheets can become a habit, which we’ve done a few times already this season and I’m sure we’ll keep a few more as the season goes on.”
Before the last minute drama, the closest the game had come to a goal was in the 21st minute when Billy Clarke struck the Oxford bar from the penalty spot.
The spot kick had been awarded for a trip on Bradford winger Timothee Dieng by Oxford defender Phil Edwards.
Appleton continued: “It wasn’t a suspect decision, it was a joke and really irritating to be fair, so I was glad we got a little bit of the rub of the green which I felt was more than just.”
The game had started fairly evenly before the award of the spot-kick, and continued in the same vein throughout.
In the 33rd minute Stephen Darby made a crucial block from a Wes Thomas effort after a smart backheel from the impressive Maguire.
Just before half-time Simon Eastwood dived smartly at the feet of Clarke after a neat through ball from Nicky Law.
The second-half continued in a similar fashion, both teams cancelling each other out and neither goalkeeper having a save of note to make.
Two minutes into the second-half Maguire fired narrowly wide of Doyle’s left-hand upright from the edge of the penalty area. Jordy Hiwula should have done better for Bradford in the 52nd minute, but instead fired his close-range volley high and wide from Romain Vincelot’s cross.
It looked like the game would remain goalless until Darby fouled John Lundstram on the edge of the area as the clock ticked passed the 90-minute mark and Maguire found the back of the net from the resulting free-kick.
Bradford manager Stuart McCall was disappointed to see their unbeated start come to an end.
“It’s a horrible feeling to lose and I’m glad we’ve only experienced it once this season,” he said. “It always feels worse when you concede so close to the end of the game.
“I thought it was a good performance and I think a draw would have been a fair result.
“It was two evenly matched teams in the game.”