BENCH STRENGTH
SUBS SINK ROYALS AT THE KASSAM
Oxford United 2, Reading 0. Oxford Utd: Gatlin O Donkor 71, Mo Missanga 78. O'Donkor and Missanga come off the bench to settle it as Oxford go third
Reading came to the Kassam knowing a win would take them above Oxford United. They left four points behind them, beaten by two players who started on the bench.
It was goalless at half-time and stayed that way until the 71st minute, when Cameron Brannagan set up substitute G. O'Donkor to break the deadlock. Seven minutes later O'Donkor turned provider for fellow substitute M. Missanga, and the game was settled.
The win stretches Oxford's unbeaten run in League One to ten games and lifts them to third, on 26 points.
“It's a brilliant result. I'm super proud of my team and the way that we performed throughout the whole 90 minutes. I thought we controlled the game and in the first half we had to be a bit more patient and make them work.” – Aaron Ramsey, Oxford boss, speaking to BBC Radio Oxford, via BBC Sport
“After the game, the first emotion is that I'm absolutely gutted for the fans - with the game that it was - to not get a positive result. It's really disappointing. I thought in the first half we were excellent out of possession, we have to be better on transition but we nullified them.” – Leam Richardson, Reading boss, speaking to BBC Radio Berkshire, via BBC Sport
Where it leaves them: Oxford Utd 3rd on 26 points; Reading 6th on 22 points. Oxford move up to third on 26 points; Reading stay sixth on 22.