James Constable's winner was enough to see off Dagenham & Redbridge and enhance Oxford's play-off hopes.

Oli Johnson opened the scoring for the U's, deftly heading home Liam Davis's left-wing cross.

The visitors equalised through defender Mark Arber, who planted a header across goal and past keeper Ryan Clarke from Medy Elito's flighted cross.

The game looked to be heading for a draw, before Constable's fine finish sealed the points for the home side.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Oxford United manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Oxford:

"I'm not loving the performance but you've got to give the players a far bit of leeway.

"It was a tight game but we took our chances, we should have scored a few more, and had an added spark after the break.

"There have been plenty of occasions this season when we haven't got what we deserved so it was nice to get the victory. Hopefully this will boost us and we can go on a bit of run in terms of winning games of football.

"The main focus was to go and get a win and we did that."

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (6)

Oxford Utd

  • 01 Clarke
  • 05 Duberry
  • 06 Wright
  • 16 Whing
  • 14 Hall (Holmes - 46' )
  • 20 Leven
  • 24 Wilson
  • 26 Davis
  • 09 Constable
  • 19 Johnson (Tonkin - 83' )
  • 23 Rendell (Kerrouche - 78' )

Substitutes

  • 03 Tonkin
  • 22 Worley
  • 04 McLaren
  • 27 Holmes
  • 39 Kerrouche

Dag & Red

  • 30 Lewington
  • 04 Doe
  • 06 Arber
  • 29 Ilesanmi
  • 41 Spillane
  • 15 Saunders
  • 19 Ogogo
  • 24 Bingham (Cunnington - 56' )
  • 37 Green (Elito - 68' )
  • 09 Nurse
  • 10 Scott (Reed - 85' )

Substitutes

  • 27 Hogan
  • 05 Rose
  • 12 Elito
  • 14 Reed
  • 42 Cunnington
Ref: Waugh
Att: 5,653

Match Stats

Shots

4 9

On target

2 5

Corners

6 4

Fouls

11 7

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:58 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +3:28

Medy Elito takes the outswinging corner, clearance made by Jake Wright.

90:00 +2:46

Mark Wilson handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Matthew Saunders.

90:00 +1:47

Shot by Adam Cunnington from just outside the area goes over the net.

90:00 +0:43

Mehdi Kerrouche is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Chris Lewington restarts play with the free kick.

88:52

Michael Duberry gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adam Cunnington. Michael Spillane fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick, save by Ryan Clarke.

87:02

The ball is delivered by Jon Nurse, clearance made by Michael Duberry.

86:27

Andrew Whing gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jon Nurse. Mark Arber restarts play with the free kick.

85:32

Foul by Andrew Whing on Jon Nurse, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed by Matthew Saunders, save by Ryan Clarke.

84:50

Foul by Mehdi Kerrouche on Michael Spillane, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by Chris Lewington.

84:02 Substitution

Substitution Josh Scott leaves the field to be replaced by Jake Reed.

82:25 Substitution

Substitution Oli Johnson leaves the field to be replaced by Anthony Tonkin.

78:57

Assist by Oli Johnson.

78:57 Goal scored

Goal - James Constable - Oxford 2 - 1 Dag & Red James Constable fires in a goal from just inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Oxford Utd 2-1 Dag & Red.

77:49

Save by Chris Lewington.

77:49 Substitution

Substitution Mehdi Kerrouche on for Scott Rendell.

77:49

Adam Cunnington takes a shot.

76:31

Corner taken left-footed by Peter Leven to the near post, save by Chris Lewington.

75:51

Jake Wright fouled by Josh Scott, the ref awards a free kick. Ryan Clarke takes the indirect free kick.

74:16

Corner taken by Peter Leven.

71:33

Assist on the goal came from Medy Elito.

71:33 Goal scored

Goal - Mark Arber - Oxford 1 - 1 Dag & Red Mark Arber finds the back of the net with a headed goal from inside the area. Oxford Utd 1-1 Dag & Red.

70:53

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Matthew Saunders.

69:46

Jon Nurse takes a shot. Save by Ryan Clarke.

68:08

Foul by Liam Davis on Jon Nurse, free kick awarded. Mark Arber takes the free kick.

67:34 Substitution

Substitution Medy Elito is brought on as a substitute for Dominic Green.

66:05

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Peter Leven from the left by-line to the near post.

61:54

Peter Leven takes the outswinging corner, clearance by Oluwafemi Ilesanmi.

61:13

Liam Davis fouled by Jon Nurse, the ref awards a free kick. Ryan Clarke takes the free kick.

59:44

Matthew Saunders gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Peter Leven. Strike comes in from Peter Leven from the free kick.

59:00

Matthew Saunders challenges Scott Rendell unfairly and gives away a free kick. Peter Leven restarts play with the free kick.

58:20

Lee Holmes crosses the ball.

56:36

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Dominic Green from the right by-line, Mark Arber takes a shot. Clearance by Liam Davis.

55:38 Substitution

Substitution Adam Cunnington comes on in place of Billy Bingham.

53:45

James Constable concedes a free kick for a foul on Scott Doe. Chris Lewington takes the indirect free kick.

52:13

Matthew Saunders produces a right-footed shot from outside the box and misses left.

50:49

The assist for the goal came from Liam Davis.

50:49 Goal scored

Goal - Oli Johnson - Oxford 1 - 0 Dag & Red Oli Johnson scores a headed goal from deep inside the penalty box. Oxford Utd 1-0 Dag & Red.

47:42

Peter Leven takes a outswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Billy Bingham.

46:01

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Peter Leven from the right by-line.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution (Oxford Utd) makes a substitution, with Lee Holmes coming on for Asa Hall.

45:00 +2:14 Half time

Half Time The whistle is blown to end the first half.

45:00 +1:33

Unfair challenge on Scott Doe by Scott Rendell results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Matthew Saunders.

45:00 +0:50

The referee blows for offside against Michael Spillane. Indirect free kick taken by Ryan Clarke.

41:02

Billy Bingham takes a shot. Save made by Ryan Clarke.

38:50

Billy Bingham fouled by Mark Wilson, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Matthew Saunders.

32:03

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Dominic Green, Jake Wright manages to make a clearance.

29:44

Michael Spillane produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the goal.

29:33

The ball is swung over by Matthew Saunders.

27:21

Scott Rendell fouled by Scott Doe, the ref awards a free kick. Mark Wilson crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, save made by Chris Lewington.

25:45

Asa Hall produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

21:29

Foul by Jon Nurse on James Constable, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Ryan Clarke.

20:54

Liam Davis concedes a free kick for a foul on Scott Doe. Free kick taken by Chris Lewington.

5:07

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Michael Spillane by James Constable. Free kick taken by Michael Spillane.

0:50

Michael Spillane fouled by Scott Rendell, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Chris Lewington.

0:17

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Scott Rendell by Scott Doe. Michael Duberry takes the direct free kick.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

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