Burnley do us again

For the second time this season Oxford surrendered a lead against Burnley and ended up defeated by conceding two goals in the last ten minutes. United took an early lead when Matt Murphy shot home from close range in the 13th minute, but goals from Steve Davis (no, not that Steve Davis) and then Paul Weller (no, not that Paul Weller) in the second minute of added time meant Oxford ended the game without at least the point they deserved. Yellow cards were dished out, rather harshly by referee B. Knight, to Steve Anthrobus (for persistent fouling, although it could equally have been for persistently being fouled) and Paul Powell (for being the nearest defender when a Burnley forward fell over).

Oxford started the game with the same line-up which lost at Wigan, except for Phil Whelan who regained his place at the expense of the injured Steve Davis. Neil McGowan returned to the bench for the first time since breaking his leg ten weeks ago, but the only substitution which Denis Smith made was bringing on Nigel Jemson for Jamie Cook.The attendance was 7,549, and a match report can be read here.

Four of United's relegation rivals were involved in games against each other. Cambridge won 4-0 at Cardiff and Scunthorpe moved to within one point of Oxford by winning 2-0 at Blackpool. Chesterfield drew 1-1 at Bury. This leaves United still fifth from bottom, but just one point ahead of Scunthorpe and now five behind Cambridge. Oxford once more have the worst goal difference in the division and only bottom club Chesterfield have scored fewer.

Elsewhere, Birmingham's push for promotion suffered a blow when an own-goal from Darren Purse gave Nottingham Forest a 1-0 win. Another former United centre back was also on the mark, at the right end of the pitch, when Andy Melville scored the last goal in Fulham's 4-0 win over Sheffield United. Steve Perryman's Shimizu S-Pulse became the first Japanese side for four years to win the Asian Cup Winners' Cup when they beat Iraq's Al Zawra 1-0 in Chiang-Mai, Thailand.