Substitute James Constable’s first goal of pre-season gave Oxford United an impressive victory over Coventry City at the Kassam Stadium. The striker struck early in the second half to see off the Sky Blues in United’s final home game before the season begins.

United began the game with Johnny Mullins and Jake Wright reunited in defence, while Callum O’Dowda was rewarded for his encouraging pre-season displays with a starting berth. Australian winger Ryan Williams made an appearance, on trial from Fulham.

The hosts were on the back foot early on, but could have broken the deadlock when Joe Murphy was forced to tip Deane Smalley’s header over his crossbar. Smalley again came close in the half, as Murphy palmed his powerful drive away from goal.

At the other end, Ryan Clarke was forced to divert Leon Clarke’s free-kick wide before the half-time whistle.

Constable, who had replaced Smalley at the interval, wasted no time in making an impact on the game as he turned to fire past Murphy just 10 seconds into the second half.

United’s defence remained secure as Coventry looked for a way back into the game, with Ryan Clarke turning Franck Moussa’s threatening shot over the bar.

The hosts suffered a blow with 20 minutes remaining as Jon Meades, who had been playing at left-back, went down in a challenge and departed the field on a stretcher. An x-ray subsequently revealed no break, but Meades and United must wait for further tests to reveal the extent of any ligament damage.

Moussa again wasted the opportunity to level the scores late on, but United held firm and were deserving of the victory.

United will send sides to Truro and Didcot in the coming days, but with this game acting as a final warm-up for many of the potential starting eleven for the opening game at Portsmouth, this was an excellent way to end pre-season.