Louis Lou-aye!

Jefferson Louis scored his first real goal for Oxford United this afternoon following some excellent set-up play from the ROS Chris Hackett. The goal, coming in the 73rd minute, ensured that United came away with all three points, for the first time at home since the first game of the season. In the first half the only action of any note was an extraordinary double-save from Andy Woodman, first pushing a shot onto the post at full-stretch and then saving the follow-up from Steve Watkin, grabbing the ball as it looked as though the Swansea striker was guiding it into the empty net. The second half was a lot livelier, especially from Oxford who fully deserved the win.

United made two changes from the side which lost to Scunthorpe last week. With no Adi Viveash because of his loan period expiring Ian Atkins decided to switch to a flat back four, bringing Dean Whitehead onto the right side of midfield. Up front Manny Omoyinmi came on for the injured Andy Scott, playing alongside loanee Gavin Gordon, who was voted joint man of the match against Scunny along with fellow loan signing Viveash. Gordon only lasted 17 minutes before a hamstring injury forced him off, to be replaced by David Oldfield. In the 59th minute a tactical change saw Whitehead replaced by Louis, a change to which the yound midfielder reacted angrily, causing Atkins to threaten him with a fine. Omoyinmi then also fell victim to a hamstring problem in the 68th minute with Hackett coming on to change the game.

Cheshunt Referee P Taylor was a bit whistle-happy and failed to play the advantage rule sensibly, but didn't book any United players. The crowd was a very disappointing 5,440, which is low considering that vouchers for the Aston Villa game were on offer. A match report is available here.

United have now risen back up to seventh in the table, just three points off pole position with Hartlepool playing at Bournemouth tomorrow. Swansea have slipped back to bottom of the league following the day's shock result, Boston beating Torquay 2-1, with the Pilgrims' first goal scored by the formerly ROS Jamie Cook. The Gulls remain second, but Rushden have moved up to third after they drew 1-1 at Exeter. Rochdale remain fourth after crashing 3-0 at Hull, who are under new manager Peter Taylor. Southend's 1-0 win over York saw them move up to fifth whilst Wrexham are the only other team now above United thanks to their 0-0 draw with Orient.

Carlisle's 2-1 home defeat to Shrewsbury sees the Cumbrians remain third from bottom. United's next opponents, Cambridge United, won 2-1 at Scunthorpe. Elsewhere there were wins for Bristol Rovers, who beat Lincoln 2-0; and Macclesfield, who won by the same scoreline at Kidderminster. Bury and Darlington drew 2-2. Ben Abbey was on target again for Woking, but it wasn't enough to stop them crashing to another heavy defeat, this time 5-1 at Southport.