Preston North End 1-3 Oxford United: Sixth defeat in 10 games as Lang forced off

Preston North End suffered a 1-3 defeat to relegation-battling Oxford United on Friday night at Deepdale.

The U’s grabbed the advantage after five minutes as Michal Helik chested the ball down and prodded home. Milutin Osmajic equalised swiftly with a header from point-blank range, latching on to Ben Whiteman’s whipped cross.

On 55 minutes, loan striker Will Lankshear applied the killer touch to convert a Stan Mills low drive and send the U’s 2-1. Ciaron Brown then extended the visitors’ lead just six minutes later, from close range. PNE club record signing Callum Lang, who has spent large portions of the last 12 months out injured, was forced off late on in the first half after taking a whack on the foot.

North End, who lined up with a back four as opposed to the regular back three, got off to a nightmare start as Oxford took the lead in too easy fashion. Cameron Brannagan sent in a free kick from just over half way and Helik was allowed the time and space to score.

PNE looked for a quick response but Alfie Devine’s low shot from just inside the box was wide. Ciaron Brown then had a great chance to head Oxford into a two-goal lead but his bullet effort from a Stanley Mills cross was over.

Osmajic did fine the leveller for North End, on 12 minutes. Skipper Whiteman sent in a pinpoint cross to find the Montenegrin whose powerful header hit the back of the net. The visitors continued to look threatening after that equaliser, particularly on the counter attack. Tottenham Hotspur loanees Lankshear and Jamie Donley, as well as Mills, saw efforts fly wide of goal following quick breaks.

Lang fired towards goal direct from a free kick but Jamie Cumming had it covered in the Oxford goal. Devine then saw a header deflect behind before Oxford defenders put their bodies on the line to charge down efforts. Some intense pressing from Matt Bloomfield’s forwards then forced nervy passing from Lewis Dobbin, and presented a chance for the away side to pounce. Dai Cornell made himself big to stop Lankshear.

Oxford reclaimed the lead 10 minutes after the break. A corner was only half-cleared before falling to Mills, who had a go from the edge of the box and it was turned in via a deft touch from Lankshear - who wheeled away in celebration.

Myles Peart-Harris forced Cornell into a near-post save on the hour mark, just before things went from bad to worse for North End. Brown scored Oxford’s third as PNE again failed to deal with another dead ball situation. Helik nodded the ball on and Brown had the simple job of tapping home.

Andrew Hughes headed wide of the post for North End, moments before Oxford burst forward again. Cornell dived low to his left to deny Brannagan - who was clean through on goal.

At the other end, a Preston comeback never looked likely. Cumming was forced into action on 80 minutes when Jordan Thompson sent a looped effort towards the top left corner, with the U’s keeper punching it away from danger. Substitutions were unable to help PNE create any clear-cut opportunities in the final stages of the game and there were audible boos at full-time, with a sixth defeat in 10 games suffered.

Attendance: 14,089 Preston North End starting XI: Cornell; Offiah, Storey, Gibson (Vukcevic 62), Hughes, Whiteman (c), Thompson (Small 82’), Lang (Jebbison 45’+4), Devine, Dobbin, Osmajic. Unused subs: Walton; Valentin, Potts, McCann, Moran, Smith.