Fleetwood Town suffered a 3-0 defeat to Oxford United in their first game back after the international break at Highbury Stadium.
Town had several first-half chances, including Jayden Stockley hitting the bar, but goals from Oxford’s Stanley Mills, Billy Bodin, and Kyle Edwards saw the away side claim all three points.
The Cods started strongly, with the first real chance of the game coming after eight minutes, as Scott Robertson saw his powerful long-range effort deflect wide of the post.
Lee Johnson’s side continued to build positively from wide areas, but after 16 minutes the away side took the lead when after cutting inside, Mills unleashed a beautiful curling effort into the top corner from 25 yards out.
Despite a good response from Fleetwood, Oxford found a second 12 minutes later. Bodin arrived on the edge of the area to fire an excellent half-volley through a crowd of players and into the bottom corner after Town were able to clear the initial delivery.
An instant reply was almost found soon after as midfielder Robertson fired another deflected effort towards goal - this one rising narrowly over.
Just minutes later, Fleetwood hit the bar when Stockley headed Ryan Broom’s clipped cross onto the woodwork - but the away side were able to preserve their two-goal advantage.
A triple change at the break, when Town introduced Kabongo Tshimanga, Xaiver Simons, and Ryan Graydon, with those changes sparking an instant impact in the game.
Tshimanga broke free down the left-hand side before pulling a ball across the face of the goal, but Jack Marriott couldn’t apply the finishing touch and diverted his effort wide.
On the hour mark the away side put the game to bed, when Edwards, who had been threatening all afternoon, cut inside from the left and curled a right-footed effort into the top corner - like Oxford’s first but from a closer distance.
Town continued to push for a response, with substitutes Junior Quitirna and Bosun Lawal brought into the fray. Tshimanga crashed an effort against the bar, but the Cod Army were unable to reduce the deficit as the U’s took all three points back to Oxfordshire.
Town XI: Lynch (GK), Johnston, Robertson (Simons 46’), Vela (C) (Quitirna 78’), Stockley (Tshimanga 46’), Mayor, Broom, Marriott, Holgate, Nsiala (Lawal 78’), Armstrong (Graydon 46’).
Subs not used: McMullan, Patterson.
Oxford United: Beadle (GK), Long, Brown, Thorniley, Moore (C), Mills (Stevens 74’), Brannagan, Bodin (Smyth 74’), McGuane, Rodrigues (Perkins 90’), Edwards (Goodrham 64’).
Subs not used: Eastwood (GK), Murphy, Negru.