Watford go fourth as Bayo strike edges out Oxford

A second-half goal by Vakoun Bayo sent Watford fourth in the Championship as they held on to beat Oxford United.

Bayo beat Oxford keeper Jamie Cumming at the second attempt for his fifth goal in three games, after netting four in the Hornets’ recent 6-2 win at Sheffield Wednesday.

The U’s remain winless on the road this campaign, having picked up just two points from seven away games since their return to the second tier.

Des Buckingham’s side pushed late on to find a leveller, even sending keeper Cumming up for a set-piece, but failed to find a moment of quality to rescue a point.

Watford boss Tom Cleverley received a booking in the second half which means he will serve a touchline ban in the Hornets’ next match at Plymouth Argyle.

Watford and Oxford last played each other in the league in 1998-99 – a season in which the Hornets were promoted from the second tier and the U’s were relegated.

Both sides had limited time to prepare for Friday’s game – Oxford beat Hull City 1-0 at home on Tuesday and Watford lost by the same score at Swansea the same night.

Towards the end of a quiet first half, Oxford worked the first real decent goalscoring opportunity, Peter Kioso picking up the ball on the right and curling a cross to the back post where Dane Scarlett slid in but could not quite poke the ball home.

The hosts nearly took the lead just before the break, Festy Ebosele crossing the ball into the box to Imran Louza, who caught it sweetly on the half-volley but his effort was deflected behind for a corner.

Watford nearly got off to the perfect start after the interval as Ebosele was played clean through on goal but, as he was set to shoot, the retreating Kioso put a hand on his shoulder and the Hornets man lost his bearings, failing to get a shot away.

The home crowd were screaming for a spot-kick but referee Anthony Backhouse was not satisfied Kioso had interfered enough with the Hornets forward to warrant a foul.

The home side then took the lead in the 53rd minute, counter-attacking with pace too quick for the U’s defence to deal with.

Kwadwo Baah sprinted down the right before cutting the ball across to the waiting Bayo whose first shot was well saved by Cumming, only for the Watford forward to fire home a successful second attempt despite the goalkeeper’s best efforts.

Bayo looked set to finish the game off with less than 10 minutes remaining as the ball was crossed to him with space and time in the box but Cumming was quick to react and saved well again.

Oxford went close late on as Mark Harris sent a close-range overhead kick over the bar but remain 16th with 17 points.

Watford boss Tom Cleverley, speaking to BBC Three Counties Radio:

“For 35 minutes of the second half we were outstanding and it was a performance that deserved a bigger lead.

“It was real control and one-way traffic then, but there were certain moments where we didn’t manage the game as well as we could.

“It was a bit all hands to the pump at the end but I’d say no one can have any complaints about the result.”

Oxford United boss Des Buckingham, speaking to BBC Radio Oxford:

“I’m proud and frustrated – we applied ourselves against a very good Watford side with a brilliant home record but I’m frustrated that we haven’t come away from this game with something because I think we deserved it.

“They did to us what we should have done to them in moments, this level is just ruthless.

“We are missing lots of players and we have never used that as an excuse and I won’t tonight because I felt we were certainly good enough, with what we had, to compete. The players can be proud but what they do need to know is that we have to take our chances in key moments.”