ALBION found themselves overpowered at the Pirelli Stadium as Oxford United scored four goals to condemn the Brewers to another home defeat.

Welsh striker Mark Harris netted twice before winger Josh Murphy and substitute James Henry completed a miserable afternoon for Albion in the second half.

In search of a much-needed victory Albion showed three changes to the side as they attempted to bounce back from the Easter Monday defeat to Barnsley. Ryan Sweeney returned to the defence as Jasper Moon dropped to the bench and there was also a recall for Tolaji Bola on the left-hand side as Rekeem Harper also found himself amongst the substitutes. Up top Ademola Ola-Adebomi got the nod to partner Joe Hugill with Mason Bennett missing out through injury. Academy striker Dylan Scott was once again given a place on the bench amongst the attacking options for manager Martin Paterson.

Oxford started very positively, and Josh Murphy had the first real opportunity whipping a right foot shot wide of the post on five minutes having seen an effort blocked by Bola moments earlier.

And Murphy was at the heart of things again just after the quarter of an hour mark curling in a teasing cross that found the head of Mark Harris, the striker diverting the ball straight into the waiting hands of Max Crocombe.

But when Oxford grabbed the lead midway through the half it was a soft goal for the Brewers to concede. A long clearance bounced awkwardly in the wind and was misjudged by Bola on the halfway line allowing HARRIS to run through, round Crocombe and slot home.

Owen Dale blazed over from an acute angle as a bouncing ball caused problems again on halfway and Harris was able to send the winger darting through on the right.

A disappointing half for the Brewers saw Joe Powell hit the crossbar with a curling corner kick in added on time, the closest Albion had come to threatening Jamie Cumming’s goal.

HALF TIME: BURTON ALBION 1-0 OXFORD UNITED

Crocombe showed good position in the opening moments of the second half as Harris bet the offside trap to deliver a low cross that Tyler Goodrham drove at goal but straight at the keeper.

It wasn’t long before Albion made a triple change in an effort to change their fortunes. Scott, Bobby Kamwa and Mustapha Carayol were all sent on to replace Bola, Ciaran Gilligan and Ola-Adebomi.

Harris was almost gifted a second when Crocombe’s touch eluded him on the edge of his box but under pressure from the Kiwi keeper the former Cardiff man could only fire into the side netting.

The striker did not have long to wait for his second of the afternoon, a driving run from Murphy seeing him denied by Sweeney’s tackle with the ball rolling into the path of the striker to bundle home.

The visitors added a third when Brayford’s shot was blocked on the edge of the Oxford box and Murphy was allowed to burst from deep in his own half to run through and calmly slot home.

Substitute Henry added a fourth with twenty minutes remaining with a simple finish from inside the box after robbing Sweeney on the edge of the box.

Tom Hamer saw a header blocked by the legs of Cumming late on as Albion tried to salvage a consolation goal but even that could not go for the Brewers.

Defeat, combined with Port Vale’s point at Wigan saw the Brewers drop into the bottom four of the table with four remaining.

ALBION: Crocombe; Hughes, Brayford, Sweeney; Hamer, Powell, Gilligan (Kamwa, 53), Helm (Harper, 74), Bola (Carayol, 53); Hugill, Ola-Adebomi (Scott, 53).

Substitutes: Blackman, Oshilaja, Moon.

GOALS: OXFORD – Harris (24, 57), Murphy (62), Henry (69)

Referee: Will Finnie

Attendance: 3,700