Tottenham loan signing Dane Scarlett’s injury-time header ensured West Brom’s poor run continued.
The Baggies topped the Championship in September. Yet they inexplicably failed to win this match to go top until teatime, despite dominating for long periods.
Carlos Corberan’s pragmatic approach has starved Albion fans of goals. This was the sixth time they had scored one or no goals in the last 10 league matches.
Yet huge credit must go to Oxford, and their habit of bloodying bigger clubs’ noses at home. Everything about Oxford’s ground screams that Des Buckingham’s side’s stay in the second tier will be short.
Yet the Baggies have been added to the list of Norwich, Preston, Stoke and Burnley, who have all left Oxfordshire without a win.
Dane Scarlett’s (second left) injury-time header ensured West Brom’s poor run continued
After a tepid opening in which United striker Mark Harris spurned the only clear chance, the visitors stepped up a gear and took the lead.
A bout of midfield head tennis was halted by Uros Racic’s sharp pass that found Karlan Ahearne-Grant. The Albion attacker still had a lot to do from 25 yards but his low drilled shot fizzed past home keeper Jamie Cumming.
Ciaron Brown almost levelled immediately with a header from Will Vaulks’s long throw. Albion failed to heed the warning.
In the 92nd minute, Vaulks launched another arrowed delivery into Albion’s box which was flicked on by captain Elliott Moore for substitute Scarlett to nod past Palmer.
‘Dane’s been really patient,’ said Buckingham. ‘But we know when it’s not quite working for Sparky (Harris), Dane is more than capable of (doing) what he’s just done.’