Oxford United were comprehensively outplayed today by promotion-chasing Burton Albion, who won 3-0 to inflict on United their heaviest home defeat since relegation to the Conference. It had all started so promisingly too, as United dominated the game until Burton scored their first goal, with Craig McAllister heading over after quarter of an hour, followed by shots from Jamie Hand and Phil Trainer, before Barry Quinn's header hit the bar and was scrambled clear. That was as good as it got for the Yellows, as they fell behind to a soft goal three minutes later. From Burton's first corner, Daryl Clare arrived unmarked three yards out to head past the static Billy Turley. Burton almost doubled their lead five minutes later, when Keith Gilroy's shot was turned onto the post by Turley before the keeper gathered the loose ball. On the 27th minute Burton did go two up, when Quinn's wayward clearance fell perfectly for Gilroy to smash home. That was pretty much match over, and the body language of the Oxford players certainly reflected that they thought so too, and the side failed to create any more chances in the first half.[@news]2285[/@news][@opponent]burton albion[/@opponent]

At the start of the second half Trainer drove the ball across the goal, but there was no one coming in to capitalise at the far post. Matt Green almost got in behind the Albion defence, but the ball hit his knee and fell kindly for goalkeeper Saul Deeney. With 20 minutes remaining, any possibility of an unlikely United comeback was extinguished when Jamie Clarke was sent off for his second booking to leave the Us down to ten men. With six minutes remaining Burton finally took advantage of their superior numbers when Danny Holmes beat Michael Howard and pulled back his cross for Gilroy to score his second goal. Credit to the visitors as they continued to push, while Oxford's players looked like they wished they were elsewhere, as all the recent signs of improvement were erased in a single stroke.

Darren Patterson made three changes to the side that had lost to Cambridge United on Tuesday. Clarke was chosen ahead of Matt Day at right back, while wide men Eddie Anaclet and Michael Blackwood were both dropped. Yemi Odubade played wide right in place of Anaclet, while Phil Trainer came back into the side after four games out and, initially at least, he looked a much-improved player thanks to the rest. Ten minutes into the second half Patterson made a double substitution, replacing Green with Justin Richards, and Trainer made way for Danny Rose. After ten more minutes Blackwood came on for Yemi, but to little effect, as the whole team, with the possibly exception of Adam Murray, looked lethargic and poor, giving the watching supporters little hope that this is the side to challenge for promotion next season.

Today's referee was the rather poor Jock Waugh, who was also in charge of United's 3-1 win at Altrincham in September. While Waugh appeared to give the benefit of the doubt in all fifty/fifty decisions to the visitors, he did get most of the important calls correct, including both Clarke's yellow cards for fouls. Today's attendance was 4,392, of whom 4,191 were not in the away end.

The defeat leaves United in 15th place, but nearer the relegation zone than the play offs, just 14 points above fourth-bottom Weymouth. Burton remain in sixth place, but are now just one point behind fifth-placed Exeter City, who were without a game today. Leaders Aldershot were also without a match today, but second-placed Cambridge surprisingly slipped up, beaten 2-1 at home by fifth-bottom Farsley Celtic. Fourth-placed Stevenage Borough are also starting to feel end-of-season jitters, as they lost 1-0 at home to Weymouth.

Bottom side Droylsden didn't play, but second-bottom Stafford Rangers, who are United's next opponents, earned a 2-2 draw at Woking. Altrincham stayed out of the drop zone thanks to a 1-0 win over Forest Green Rovers, while Halifax won 3-1 at Histon. Kidderminster Harriers beat Grays Athletic 1-0, and Crawley and Salisbury City drew 1-1.