Lewis Grabban struck a sweet effort from 20 yards out on his Rotherham debut to defeat Oxford.

The U's should have led when Asa Hall hit the post from Damian Batt's free-kick and Michael Duberry fired the rebound over from close range.

Grabban scored his goal early in the second half and debutant Peter Leven had a great chance to level for Oxford but he fired wide.

The scorer almost added a second but Ryan Clarke saved his shot superbly.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

U's boss Chris Wilder told BBC Oxford:

"I thought we were really comfortable in the first half and had the two best chances of the game. We should really have been 2-0 up at half-time.

"In the last 20 minutes, the majority of play was in their half but the quality wasn't there.

"We looked a bit anxious and rushed when we needed to settle down in that final third - that's what decided a close game."

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (5)

Rotherham

  • 01 Logan
  • 02 Tonge
  • 03 Newey
  • 05 Cresswell
  • 22 Brown
  • 04 Harrison
  • 08 Taylor
  • 11 Schofield (Pringle - 84' )
  • 10 Le Fondre
  • 20 Holroyd (Evans - 72' )
  • 23 Grabban

Substitutes

  • 21 Warrington
  • 24 Raynes
  • 07 Evans
  • 12 Marshall
  • 18 Pringle

Oxford Utd

  • 01 Clarke
  • 02 Batt
  • 03 Tonkin (Pittman - 68' )
  • 05 Duberry
  • 06 Wright
  • 16 Whing
  • 14 Hall (Leven - 75' )
  • 18 Payne (Potter - 57' )
  • 26 Davis
  • 09 Constable
  • 10 Smalley

Substitutes

  • 21 Brown
  • 08 Heslop
  • 20 Leven
  • 11 Pittman
  • 15 Potter
Ref: Mohareb
Att: 4,484

Match Stats

Shots

8 8

On target

4 1

Corners

8 6

Fouls

10 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:32 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +3:28

Effort from outside the box by Alfie Potter goes wide right of the target.

90:00 +2:25

Tom Newey concedes a free kick for a foul on James Constable. Strike on goal comes in from Peter Leven from the free kick, blocked by Adam Le Fondre.

89:42

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Ben Pringle, Michael Duberry manages to make a clearance.

89:20

Lewis Grabban takes a shot. Save made by Ryan Clarke.

88:10

Danny Harrison concedes a free kick for a foul on Peter Leven. Peter Leven takes the direct free kick.

86:35

Jason Taylor fouled by Jon-Paul Pittman, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Jason Taylor.

83:39 Substitution

Substitution (Rotherham) makes a substitution, with Ben Pringle coming on for Danny Schofield.

83:08

Gareth Evans takes a shot.

80:30

Jason Taylor challenges Peter Leven unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Peter Leven.

79:40

Adam Le Fondre challenges Michael Duberry unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ryan Clarke restarts play with the free kick.

79:09

Inswinging corner taken by Danny Schofield from the right by-line, Michael Duberry manages to make a clearance.

77:44

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Peter Leven, save by Conrad Logan.

75:15

Unfair challenge on Andrew Whing by Troy Brown results in a free kick. Jake Wright restarts play with the free kick.

74:32 Substitution

Substitution Asa Hall goes off and Peter Leven comes on.

71:47 Substitution

Substitution Chris Holroyd goes off and Gareth Evans comes on.

71:14

Centre by Lewis Grabban.

70:36

Free kick awarded for a foul by Lewis Grabban on Michael Duberry. Damian Batt takes the direct free kick.

69:30

Free kick awarded for a foul by James Constable on Danny Schofield. Conrad Logan takes the direct free kick.

67:55 Substitution

Substitution Anthony Tonkin goes off and Jon-Paul Pittman comes on.

66:11

Corner taken left-footed by Danny Schofield, James Constable manages to make a clearance.

65:34

Inswinging corner taken by Danny Schofield, clearance by Alfie Potter.

64:26

James Constable gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Danny Schofield. Conrad Logan takes the direct free kick.

63:35

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by James Constable, Tom Newey manages to make a clearance.

62:44

The referee penalises Danny Schofield for handball. Alfie Potter takes the free kick.

61:48

The ball is sent over by Liam Davis, Alfie Potter produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the target.

61:08

Outswinging corner taken by Liam Davis from the left by-line, Danny Harrison makes a clearance.

60:38

Liam Davis takes the inswinging corner, Jason Taylor makes a clearance.

60:28

A cross is delivered by Damian Batt, Tom Newey manages to make a clearance.

58:47

Foul by Jason Taylor on Alfie Potter, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Liam Davis.

58:11

Tom Newey delivers the ball, Ryan Clarke makes a save.

56:02 Substitution

Substitution Alfie Potter is brought on as a substitute for Josh Payne.

50:05

Danny Schofield fouled by Andrew Whing, the ref awards a free kick. Ryan Cresswell takes the direct free kick.

49:23

Effort from the edge of the box by Adam Le Fondre goes wide of the right-hand upright.

47:36 Goal scored

Goal - Lewis Grabban - Rotherham 1 - 0 Oxford Lewis Grabban gets on the score sheet with a goal from outside the box to the top left corner of the goal. Rotherham 1-0 Oxford Utd.

46:58

Asa Hall concedes a free kick for a foul on Jason Taylor. Conrad Logan takes the direct free kick.

45:52

Shot from outside the penalty box by Liam Davis goes wide right of the goal.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:00 +2:12 Half time

Half Time It is the end of the first-half.

45:00 +0:59

Danny Schofield takes a shot. Save by Ryan Clarke.

41:35

Centre by Dale Tonge, Danny Schofield produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the goal.

39:42

Corner taken right-footed by Danny Schofield, clearance made by Michael Duberry.

39:00

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Danny Schofield from the right by-line, Jason Taylor takes a shot. Save by Ryan Clarke.

35:11

A cross is delivered by Danny Schofield, Jake Wright makes a clearance.

29:36

Asa Hall gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Chris Holroyd. Free kick taken by Tom Newey, Jason Taylor takes a shot. Ryan Clarke makes a save.

29:03

Josh Payne sends in a cross, clearance made by Ryan Cresswell.

26:23

Danny Harrison gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Asa Hall. Ryan Clarke takes the direct free kick.

25:05

Corner from the left by-line taken by Josh Payne, Liam Davis has a headed effort from close in and clears the bar.

23:03

Josh Payne challenges Danny Schofield unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Jason Taylor.

21:04

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Danny Schofield, Josh Payne manages to make a clearance.

20:52

Adam Le Fondre delivers the ball.

19:25

Danny Schofield takes the inswinging corner, save made by Ryan Clarke.

18:46

Asa Hall concedes a free kick for a foul on Lewis Grabban. Danny Schofield takes the free kick.

17:49

The ball is swung over by Liam Davis, James Constable takes a shot. Save made by Conrad Logan.

15:58

The ball is swung over by Damian Batt.

15:20

Centre by Jason Taylor.

13:33

Adam Le Fondre is caught offside. Ryan Clarke takes the free kick.

12:39

Tom Newey sends in a cross, save by Ryan Clarke.

11:56

The assistant referee flags for offside against James Constable. Conrad Logan takes the free kick.

10:40

Free kick awarded for a foul by Danny Schofield on Damian Batt. Direct free kick taken by Damian Batt, Effort on goal by Michael Duberry from just inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.

9:55

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Josh Payne.

8:58

The ball is delivered by Damian Batt, James Constable has a headed effort at goal from close range which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

5:28

Free kick awarded for a foul by Dale Tonge on Jake Wright. Anthony Tonkin takes the direct free kick.

4:20

Tom Newey crosses the ball, clearance made by Michael Duberry.

2:31

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Chris Holroyd by Jake Wright. Dale Tonge takes the direct free kick.

0:00

The referee starts the match.

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