Coming into this match Oxford were full of confidence; a surprise win against Bournemouth and an away win to Bristol Rovers were perfect preparation for tonight's game. The opposite can be said for Southend as defeats in the cup and the loss to a weak Accrington Stanley side have left them in serious need of getting some points on the board.
Oxford started brightly, playing with confidence passes were stringed together, however, producing no final product.
As the half grew older some passes became lazier, and the wings were not utilised as much as we had seen in the opening passage. The match was becoming bittier, so when Southend's Timlin was sent off after what can only be described as a soft second bookable offence it was just what was needed to spring Oxford back into life.
Chances towards the end of the half became more frequent for The Yellows as Dean Smalley's shot went inches past the post and Sean Rigg's header produced a fine save from the on-form Belford.
Oxford can reflect on the half with little positivity but with the knowledge of knowing where to make their extra man count and reignite the passing flare we had seen so early in the first. As for Southend, a message to their strikers must be to try and avoid the offside trap which had been such a common factor in their first half.
Oxford needed more width in the second half, so Tom Craddock replaced Lee Cox to accommodate this. And what an impact he made, within ten minutes of coming on Damian Batt produced a rare perfect cross which Tom coolly flicked in with the outside of his boot to the far corner. It's one nil.
From here on Oxford played with a confidence rarely seen at the Kassam. For once it felt we really had wrapped this up and the crowd could almost relax. Southend were tiring with ten men, allowing more openings for Oxford. The U's could have had a stack more goals, Alfie Potter hitting the post, Batt getting into good positions with no end product, Smalley, who deserved a goal for his performance couldn't find the back of the net.
But it was Tom Craddock again who found the back of the net. He took on the tiring Cresswell and slotted the pall past a Belford who had had little help from his defence. Two nil now and the three points were theirs.
This result was the least the home side deserved and have broken the losing curse to their bogey team, Southend.
Attendance: 6,001 (290 from Southend)
Man of the Match: Alfie Potter
Match Rating: ****
Referee Rating: **** - The sending off was soft, apart from that let the game flow very well.
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