Division 3 here we come

United lost 3-1 at home to Reading tonight in a shambolic display that had relegation written all over it. Once again Oxford took the lead through a fine bit of individual skill from Paul Powell after eight minutes, but again proved incapable of holding onto it. This time the lead lasted three minutes before a catalogue of errors gifted Reading an equaliser as a shot rebounded off the post and hit Andre Arendse to go into the net. This was followed in the 32nd minute by an error from Arendse, who could only parry a shot into the path of Lee Hodges who made no mistake. Any hopes of an Oxford comeback were shattered fifteen minutes into the second half when a mistake by Powell allowed Darren Caskey an easy tap-in. Arendse had to be replaced by Pål Lundin shortly after the second goal with what appeared to be a dislocated shoulder, and shortly after Reading's third goal Christian Edwards went off for Derek Lilley, with Les Robinson dropping to right back in his place. With ten minutes remaining Kevin Francis came off the bench to replace Craig Russell. An incredibly depressing match report can be found here.
This defeat was Oxford's tenth at home this season, a new club record. Other results in the division meant that Oxford have now slipped to third from bottom, as Scunthorpe won 2-1 at Millwall and Cambridge beat Bristol City 3-0. Blackpool took an early lead at Wigan, but ended up doing an Oxford and losing 5-1 (the McMahon touch?). Cardiff City lost 2-1 at home to Bournemouth, for whom Mark Stein scored the first goal, and Chesterfield's game at Oldham was postponed.

Powelly – one in a million?

According to the Sun newspaper yesterday Wigan Athletic have offered United one million pounds for U's prodigy Paul Powell, who is certainly one of the few players at the club who deserves better. There has been no confirmation of this bid from any other source and so should be regarded in the same light as everything else that appears in the Sun.

Wiiiillll!!!

Rotherham beat struggling Hull 3-0, set on their way by a rare Brian Wilsterman goal. David Penney put Doncaster Rovers ahead against Kidderminster, but the Yorkshire club lost 2-1 at home.