Oxford United threw away a three-goal lead against Torquay United at Minchery Farm last night, as the side's inability to defend a lead reached preposterous proportions. [@news]2199[/@news][@opponent]torquay united[/@opponent] United were leading 3-0 at half-time, and looking good for the lead, but as soon as the visitors pulled a goal back all the old uncertainties returned, and the final result was inevitable. The failure of the Yellows to kill off the game, even at 3-0, will lead to further calls for a change of management, although Jim Smith has said that he will not step aside, and as he's a club director that would appear to be that. However, it is clear that most fans are unhappy with the status quo, which could lead to disastrous knock-on effects on attendances and therefore revenue, unless something changes soon.

Oxford started the game quite brightly, and were on top for the first five minutes, after which Torquay came back into the game and forced a succession of corners, which United dealt with. After quarter of an hour a quick break led to a foul on Paul Shaw about 25 yards out, level with the angle of the penalty area. Instead of heeding the calls of the fans to shoot, Alex Jeannin floated a ball into the danger area between the defence and the goalkeeper, and Eddie Hutchinson ghosted in to head home his first goal of the season. Two minutes later the Us doubled their lead after a Torquay attack. While Jeannin lay injured on the floor, Billy Turley pumped a long ball forward. Yemi Odubade just beat Shaw to the ball and beat Simon Rayner with a left-footed shot from the edge of the area. Given their usual propensity to sit back and try and defend a lead, many Oxford fans remained unconvinced about United's chances, but they defied normality by continuing to press, and playing much of the game in the Torquay half. Turley didn't have a shot to save in the remainder of the half, and in added time a long ball from Phil Trainer found Yemi, who out-muscled Gulls substitute Tony Bedeau. Yemi advanced on Rayner and, instead of his usual trick of blasting the ball straight at the keeper or several yards off target, he dinked the ball over the goalie to set up what should have been an unassailable lead.

Unfortunately, we all know what United are capable of, and in the second half Torquay started to take the game to United. Turley saved a Tim Sills header, and then Chris Zebroski headed just wide. The Yellows held out for almost quarter of an hour, but eventually the pressure told after Chris Hargreaves went hard into Turley, who lost the ball to substitute Ishmael Welsh, who converted easily. With United now on the back foot things started to get nervous, and with 11 minutes remaining Zebroski waltzed through United's defence and planted the ball in the net. United were now playing deeper and deeper, often refusing to leave the safety of their own penalty area, and any attacking intent had long since gone. The equaliser came as no surprise, and inevitably it was scored by Sills, rubbish at Oxford, who was left unmarked at the far post for a simple header. After that, the only real surprise is that Torquay seemed content with the point, whereas if they had continued as they had for the previous 30 minutes they may well have won the game in the five minutes stoppage time.

Despite hints to the contrary, Smith retained the unpopular 3-5-2 line-up, allegedly due to an injury to Barry Quinn. This left a defence far from match fit, as Mickey Corcoran came back into the side after being dropped at Droylsden, while Chris Willmott made his second start of the season, and Phil Gilchrist made his first start, replacing the departed Arthur Gnohere. Luke Foster played at right wingback. In midfield Carl Pettefer started, replacing Matt Day. Despite being overwhelmed in midfield, Smith waited until after Torquay scored their second goal before making his first change, taking off midfielder Hutchinson and giving a debut to young striker Jordan Rhodes, on loan from Ipswich Town. With Foster and Jeannin now playing as defenders, this essentially left a midfield consisting of the hard-working Pettefer, and the absolutely knackered Trainer, while the three-man strike force was left completely isolated and seeing very little of the ball, leaving one feeling deep sympathy for the new lad. A second substitution shortly afterwards saw Day come on for Foster, we're not sure why. This turned out to be Shaw's final game for United, as it was announced afterwards that he left the club for a player/coach role in Hungary. It was also announced that United have signed midfielder Stefan Bailey from Queens Park Rangers on a one-month loan deal.

The unfortunate chap in the middle last night was Gavin Ward, last seen on these shores at the home game against Dagenham & Redbridge last season. Mr Ward booked Shaw, but didn't have a bad game considering the constraints his assistants appeared to place on him. The attendance was 4,633, of whom 361 found themselves in the away end.

The draw lifted Oxford above Salisbury City into 11th place, while Torquay went above Stevenage Borough into second place, just one point behind leaders Aldershot. There are two Conference games tonight, as United Old Boys Rushden & Diamonds take on Forest Green Rovers, and United Old Boys Weymouth host Crawley Town.