Przemyslaw Placheta’s fine solo goal gave Oxford United an impressive victory over Ipswich Town, who missed the chance to go second in the Championship.
Substitute Placheta latched on to Brian de Keersmaecker’s pinpoint ball over the top, an excellent first touch took him clear and he slotted wonderfully past Christian Walton.
Leif Davis had levelled for Ipswich after the break with an expertly taken volley from the edge of the box straight from a corner.
In the first half Azor Matusiwa’s loose pass had gifted Oxford an opener as Mark Harris ran on to the ball and stroked in his first goal of the season after Walton had saved his initial effort.
Oxford’s first win in six matches takes them out of the relegation zone and up to 19th, while Ipswich stay fifth after their six-game unbeaten run was ended.
Crucial period for both sides
Gary Rowett’s side were not expected to get much out of a game against an in-form team that came down from the Premier League and they only had 27% possession over the 90 minutes.
But they more than matched their opponents after Davis’ equaliser and could have won by a bigger margin.
Ole Romeny fizzed one just past the post, Tyler Goodrham was denied by Walton and De Keersmaecker fired wide from the edge of the area.
Meanwhile Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich must refocus on their push for automatic promotion and an immediate return to the top flight.
After a slow start to the campaign this was their first defeat since 21 October and the next couple of weeks could go a long way to defining the Tractor Boys’ season.
Following next Tuesday’s rearranged trip to Blackburn, they host leaders Coventry and second-placed Stoke in the space of five days.
Oxford also face a crucial pre-Christmas period. They visit the teams either side of them in the table – 20th-placed Swansea and Blackburn, in 18th, in their next two matches before hosting Preston.
Ipswich lack clinical edge
Kieran McKenna’s side had 18 shots and 73% possession
Ipswich will almost certainly see this as a missed opportunity to pick up three points in a game where they went behind against the run of play and dominated the ball for long spells.
Oxford had barely threatened until Dutch midfielder Matusiwa did not look when attempting to play back to goalkeeper Walton and Harris nipped in to score for the first time in 16 matches this season.
Davis’ cushioned volley into the bottom corner came from a set-piece routine that appeared to be straight from the training ground and the visitors pushed for a second goal straight after.
Jaden Philogene’s low, bending effort was tipped around the post by Jamie Cumming after it took an awkward bounce in front of him.
Marcelino Nunez smashed an effort from distance straight at the goalkeeper and Cumming then took the ball in the face from George Hirst’s close-range strike.
But Placheta’s goal at the other end seemed to take the wind out of Ipswich’s sails and they must now regroup for what might be a fiery midweek match at Ewood Park.
The initial game in September was abandoned after 79 minutes because of a waterlogged pitch, with Blackburn leading 1-0, and the EFL later said the fixture would have to be replayed in full.
