Substitute Tom Craddock scored twice as Oxford beat Southend to secure their second successive League Two win.

The visitors played for more than an hour with 10 men after Michael Timlin picked up two yellow cards.

Craddock, who missed most of last season through injury, came on at half-time and turned in Alfie Potter's cross to open Oxford's account.

The forward struck again late on as he hit an unstoppable drive past stranded keeper Cameron Belford.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Oxford United manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Oxford:

"It was another decent night's work for us.

"We've seen these types of night before, but we were really patient tonight.

"We kept the ball well, moved it from side to side. Tommy [Craddock] coming on gave us another goal threat and it was a very satisfying result.

"They made it hard, their manager is an astute man, and the only disappointment is that we didn't round it off with a few more goals."

Southend manager Paul Sturrock told BBC Essex:

"In the first 25 minutes, we were starting to settle ourselves down, we were getting around their goal and beginning to steal the ball in the right areas.

"The second yellow card (resulting in Timlin's dismissal) was a soft one and it changed the whole complexion of the game.

"I'm proud of every one of my players, the work ethic was different class when we were down to 10 men.

"We lost a bad goal 10 minutes into the second half but it was late on before they scored again and everybody gave it their best shift."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (5)

Oxford Utd

  • 01 Clarke
  • 02 Batt
  • 04 Raynes
  • 06 Wright
  • 17 Capaldi
  • 07 Chapman
  • 14 Rigg
  • 18 Forster-Caskey
  • 19 Cox (Craddock - 46' )
  • 10 Smalley
  • 15 Potter (Evans - 89' )

Substitutes

  • 21 Brown
  • 03 McGinty
  • 23 Evans
  • 08 Heslop
  • 09 Constable
  • 11 Pittman
  • 29 Craddock

Southend

  • 34 Belford
  • 02 Clohessy
  • 03 Straker (Barker - 77' )
  • 06 Cresswell
  • 15 Phillips
  • 08 Timlin Dismissed after an earlier booking
  • 14 Hurst (Hall - 65' )
  • 18 Leonard (Assombalonga - 65' )
  • 19 Spicer
  • 12 Ferdinand
  • 21 Tomlin

Substitutes

  • 01 Smith
  • 16 Prosser
  • 23 Barker
  • 04 Hall
  • 20 Assombalonga
  • 09 Harris
  • 24 Benyon
Ref: Langford
Att: 6,001

Match Stats

Shots

21 2

On target

8 1

Corners

8 1

Fouls

9 11

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:55 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +3:32

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jake Forster-Caskey by Ryan Hall. Tony Capaldi restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +2:53

Short corner taken by Sean Rigg from the right by-line.

90:00 +2:30

Jake Forster-Caskey takes a shot. Save by Cameron Belford.

90:00 +2:04

Unfair challenge on Damian Batt by Ryan Hall results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Jake Forster-Caskey.

88:34 Substitution

Substitution Alex Evans comes on in place of Alfie Potter.

86:39

The assist for the goal came from Sean Rigg.

86:39 Goal scored

Goal - Tom Craddock - Oxford 2 - 0 Southend Tom Craddock gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Oxford Utd 2-0 Southend.

86:07

Sean Rigg takes a shot.

85:13

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Adam Chapman, Britt Assombalonga manages to make a clearance.

84:38

Tom Craddock takes a shot. Save made by Cameron Belford.

82:52

Deane Smalley produces a cross.

81:49

A cross is delivered by Sean Clohessy, Ryan Clarke makes a save.

80:25

Sean Rigg produces a cross.

79:37

The ball is crossed by Sean Rigg, clearance made by Kane Ferdinand.

78:20

Adam Chapman has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide right of the target.

76:28 Substitution

Substitution Chris Barker replaces Anthony Straker.

76:12

Long distance shot from Jake Forster-Caskey misses to the left of the target.

74:58

Corner taken short by Jake Forster-Caskey.

74:14

Sean Rigg crosses the ball, Effort from inside the penalty box by Alfie Potter hits the post.

73:45

Tony Capaldi produces a cross, clearance by Ryan Cresswell.

73:02

The assistant referee signals for offside against Britt Assombalonga. Tony Capaldi restarts play with the free kick.

72:32

The ball is crossed by Gavin Tomlin, save made by Ryan Clarke.

71:09

Corner from the right by-line taken by Adam Chapman, John Spicer manages to make a clearance.

69:26

Sean Rigg crosses the ball, Mark Phillips manages to make a clearance.

67:55

Gavin Tomlin fouled by Jake Wright, the ref awards a free kick. Kane Ferdinand takes the direct free kick.

65:00 Substitution

Substitution Britt Assombalonga comes on in place of Ryan Leonard.

64:26 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Hall replaces Kevan Hurst.

63:37

Ryan Cresswell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Deane Smalley. Shot comes in from Adam Chapman from the free kick.

63:03

Alfie Potter fouled by Anthony Straker, the ref awards a free kick. Alfie Potter restarts play with the free kick.

61:58

Long range shot from Alfie Potter misses to the left of the target.

59:31

Shot from just outside the box by Tom Craddock goes over the target.

59:03

Foul by Adam Chapman on Ryan Leonard, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Cameron Belford.

58:22

Corner from the right by-line taken by Jake Forster-Caskey, John Spicer manages to make a clearance.

57:48

Tom Craddock produces a cross, Sean Rigg takes a shot. Save made by Cameron Belford.

56:23

Corner from the right by-line taken by Jake Forster-Caskey, Gavin Tomlin manages to make a clearance.

56:09

Deane Smalley takes a shot. Save by Cameron Belford.

56:00

Sean Rigg produces a cross, Mark Phillips makes a clearance.

53:03

The assist for the goal came from Sean Rigg.

53:03 Goal scored

Goal - Tom Craddock - Oxford 1 - 0 Southend Tom Craddock fires in a goal from close in low into the middle of the goal. Oxford Utd 1-0 Southend.

52:55

The ball is sent over by Sean Rigg,

52:12

John Spicer is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Ryan Clarke.

51:03

A cross is delivered by Sean Rigg.

50:16

Gavin Tomlin fouled by Michael Raynes, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by John Spicer.

49:30

Centre by Tony Capaldi.

45:41

Gavin Tomlin is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Adam Chapman.

45:08

Free kick awarded for a foul by Tom Craddock on Mark Phillips. Cameron Belford takes the free kick.

45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution (Oxford Utd) makes a substitution, with Tom Craddock coming on for Lee Cox.

45:00 +2:57 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to end the first period.

45:00 +1:53

The ball is swung over by Damian Batt, Sean Rigg takes a shot. Save made by Cameron Belford.

45:00 +0:52

Gavin Tomlin is caught offside. Lee Cox takes the free kick.

45:00 +0:05

Inswinging corner taken by Adam Chapman from the left by-line, save made by Cameron Belford.

44:53

Centre by Alfie Potter, clearance made by Sean Clohessy.

43:55

Lee Cox crosses the ball.

43:31

Anthony Straker concedes a free kick for a foul on Deane Smalley. Jake Forster-Caskey takes the direct free kick.

42:33

The ball is sent over by Damian Batt, Effort from inside the area by Deane Smalley misses to the left of the goal.

40:32

Jake Forster-Caskey challenges Kane Ferdinand unfairly and gives away a free kick. Cameron Belford takes the free kick.

38:51

Deane Smalley challenges Ryan Cresswell unfairly and gives away a free kick. Kevan Hurst takes the direct free kick.

38:29

The ball is sent over by John Spicer, clearance made by Lee Cox.

34:52

Ryan Cresswell concedes a free kick for a foul on Deane Smalley. Adam Chapman produces a cross, Deane Smalley takes a shot. Save made by Cameron Belford.

31:42

Centre by Tony Capaldi, Headed effort from inside the penalty area by Jake Forster-Caskey misses to the right of the target.

28:26

Gavin Tomlin takes a shot. Lee Cox gets a block in.

27:33

Alfie Potter gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ryan Leonard. Cameron Belford restarts play with the free kick.

26:52

Ryan Clarke restarts play with the free kick.

26:52 Dismissal

Dismissal Michael Timlin is shown a red card for second bookable offence.

26:39

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lee Cox by Michael Timlin.

25:50

Gavin Tomlin delivers the ball, clearance made by Tony Capaldi.

24:26

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

22:41

Inswinging corner taken by Jake Forster-Caskey, Header from deep inside the penalty area by Adam Chapman goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

21:44

Damian Batt takes the direct free kick.

21:44 Booking

Booking Michael Timlin is given a yellow card.

21:34

Michael Timlin gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Damian Batt.

19:52

Alfie Potter sends in a cross, save by Cameron Belford.

19:34

Centre by Damian Batt, Anthony Straker makes a clearance.

17:30

John Spicer delivers the ball.

17:00

John Spicer takes a shot. Jake Wright gets a block in.

12:22

A cross is delivered by Ryan Leonard.

11:36

Free kick awarded for a foul by Deane Smalley on Mark Phillips. Cameron Belford takes the direct free kick.

10:12

A cross is delivered by Sean Rigg, Mark Phillips makes a clearance.

9:16

Unfair challenge on Sean Rigg by Anthony Straker results in a free kick. Damian Batt takes the direct free kick.

7:57

Inswinging corner taken by Kevan Hurst from the left by-line, Michael Raynes makes a clearance.

7:43

Unfair challenge on Kane Ferdinand by Damian Batt results in a free kick. Kane Ferdinand restarts play with the free kick.

7:11

Kevan Hurst is caught offside. Ryan Clarke restarts play with the free kick.

6:18

Effort from long distance by Jake Forster-Caskey goes wide right of the goal.

5:55

Foul by Mark Phillips on Deane Smalley, free kick awarded. Adam Chapman takes the free kick.

2:52

Sean Rigg fouled by Mark Phillips, the ref awards a free kick. Jake Forster-Caskey produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

1:49

The ball is crossed by Damian Batt, Mark Phillips makes a clearance.

0:40

Adam Chapman takes a shot.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

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