Bury 0 - 1 Oxford United - O'Dowda lifts Oxford

Oxford claimed a late 1-0 win away to 10-man Bury to take another step away from the League Two drop zone.

Bury had the better of a tight affair until defender Adam El-Abd was sent off in the 65th minute.

Four minutes later Danny Hylton's penalty was saved by Bury keeper Nick Pope, but substitute Callum O'Dowda struck on 85 minutes to make it four unbeaten for Oxford and send them eight points clear of the bottom two.

Bury had won their previous four and Chris Hussey curled a free-kick onto the roof of the U's net early on.

Oxford's Alex MacDonald was lucky not to be shown a second yellow card after a late challenge on Joe Riley as he squared for Nicky Adams, whose close-range effort was parried by Ryan Clarke.

Bury's Danny Rose fired over just after the break before Kelvin Etuhu was denied bravely by Clarke.

Rose's header was then tipped over by Clarke, but shortly after El-Abd was shown a second yellow card for fouling Kemar Roofe.

Bury sub Jim McNulty then tripped Hylton in the box, although Pope saved well to his right.

Patrick Hoban's shot was saved as Oxford looked to make Bury pay before O'Dowda broke the offside trap and rounded Pope to slide the ball in.

Bury defender Nathan Cameron then spurned a great chance to salvage a point as he headed over in stoppage time.