Wednesday 03 Jan 2024

Oisin Smyth scores stunner for Oxford

Midfielder Oisin Smyth scored a stunning winner for Oxford United in their League One contest at Charlton Athletic to record his first goal for the club since joining them from Dungannon Swifts. 

With the score at the Valley level at 1-1 with five minutes remaining, the 23-year-old stepped up to fire home from 30-yards out to seal all three points for the visitors. 

Speaking to the Oxford Mail following the 2-1 victory Smyth said: “As soon as it opened up for me, I thought I’d hit it and thankfully it went in. 

“It was brilliant. The boys said I stood still for a couple of seconds, and it was a surreal feeling. Hopefully that’s not the last and there are a few more to come.”  

Meanwhile, winger Paddy Lane was an influential figure in Portsmouth’s 2-1 home win over Stevenage as not only did he open the scoring for the League One leaders with his seventh goal of the campaign, but he also provided an assist for their 33^rd minute winner.  

In the Championship, former Linfield winger Paul Smyth found the net for the second time this season as QPR went down 2-1 at Loftus Road to Cardiff City.

Also in the division, 20-year-old Conor Falls was an unused substitute for Huddersfield Town for the second time over the Christmas period as the Yorkshire outfit fell to a 4-1 defeat at high flying Leicester City at the King Power stadium.

Midfielder Jordan Thompson will be suspended for Stoke City’s upcoming third round FA Cup tie at home to Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend after being sent-off against Ipswich Town. The 26-year-old received a second yellow card midway through the second half of the scoreless draw with the Tractor Boys.

In Scotland, the ever improving Ross McCausland opened Rangers’ account in the 3-1 victory at Ibrox over Kilmarnock, who had Matthew Kennedy, Kyle Vassell and Liam Donnelly in their starting line-up. 

However, the unlucky Donnelly, who had just returned from injury, was replaced after just 18 minutes due to another injury while Brad Lyons missed the game completely after sustaining a knee injury in Killie’s 2-2 draw at Dundee last weekend. 

In the Premier League, Conor Bradley was an unused substitute for the fourth successive game as Liverpool maintained their place at the top of the table with a 4-2 win over Newcastle United at Anfield.

Finally, there was an assist for winger Jordan Jones, his ninth of the season, in Wigan’s 1-1 draw at Barnsley and also for striker Jamie Reid who failed to add to his 18 goals this season as Stevenage fell to a 2-1 reverse at Portsmouth.