Oxford United 3 : 1 Accrington Stanley - Appleton up and running with U's

Posted Wednesday, September 17, 2014 by PA

Oxford notched their first victory of the season with a 3-1 win over 10-man Accrington at the Kassam Stadium.

Michael Appleton secured his first win in the U's hotseat as they got a helping hand from James Gray's early red card.

Danny Hylton scored his sixth goal of the campaign in the 15th minute to fire Oxford in front after debutant Brian Howard's long crossfield pass cut out two defenders.

Managerless Stanley were back level almost immediately, though, as Marcus Carver turned in Piero Mingoia's shot from virtually on the line just two minutes later

However, midfielder Michael Collins struck the goal of the game to put the hosts back in front nine minutes before the interval.

When Stanley keeper Joe Lumley produced a weak clearance, Collins controlled it in the middle of midfield and shot into the unguarded net from nearly 40 yards.

Accrington's evening got worse with James Gray sent off shortly afterwards for lashing out on the touchline at on-loan full-back Joe Riley.

And Tyrone Barnett grabbed a third for Oxford midway through the second half, nipping in to score by whisking the ball away from Luke Joyce's pass back to his keeper.