OXFORD United began 2023 with a New Year’s Day defeat at home to Exeter City.

Sam Nombe scored the only goal of the game with just over 10 minutes to go, applying the finish after the visitors led a three-on-one counter-attack from a United corner.

Karl Robinson made two changes to the side which won 3-1 against Charlton Athletic on Thursday night, as Yanic Wildschut made his first U’s start, while Tyler Goodrham started a first league game for the club.

Josh Murphy and Billy Bodin, both so impressive against Charlton, dropped to the bench.

United started the first half on top, with Cameron Brannagan striking a 25-yard free kick into the wall and Goodrham seeing the rebound deflected away within the opening 60 seconds.

Lewis Bate then searched out Ciaron Brown with a teasing ball over the Exeter defence, but Brown wasn’t able to find Matty Taylor as he stretched to send a cross in the direction of the U’s No 9.

It was then the away side’s turn to carve out a chance as Josh Key fired high over the bar at the back post after a marauding run down the left from Jake Caprice.

Brown made a superb challenge in the box to thwart namesake Jevani two minutes later.

With 10 minutes on the clock, Wildschut beat his man and sent in a cross to Goodrham, who headed towards goal but Jamal Blackman was able to make a comfortable stop.

The U’s continued to dominate, with Djavan Anderson invited to run infield from the right before unleashing a left-footed shot from the edge of the area, however it was charged down by the Grecians defence.

United then took things down a notch, but just after the half hour mark, Goodrham toepoked a shot from the edge of the box but Blackman was again equal to the effort.

On the cusp of half-time, Taylor hit the post after Marcus McGuane sidestepped his marker, charged up the pitch and played in the U’s striker.

Taylor though hit the woodwork with his effort from 18 yards.

The start of the second half lacked the intensity that the opening section of the first 45 minutes had, with the first chance falling to Brannagan on 53 minutes, but he sent his shot wide from just outside the penalty area.

Both sides freshened things up just after the hour mark and it was the away side who got closest to goal after those changes, as Josh Key saw an effort from inside the six-yard box charged down.

At the other end, Blackman pushed behind a stinging Brannagan effort from just outside the area.

Elliott Moore then made an outstanding challenge to stop Key, who had rounded Ed McGinty and looked certain to score on 71 minutes.

However, Moore was able to get back and thwart the Grecians midfielder.

Exeter landed a sucker punch on United in the final 10 minutes though when they took the lead through a lightening counter-attack.

Caprice led a three-on-one and released Jay Stansfield, who was thwarted by an excellent save by McGinty.

However, the ball fell to the feet of Nombe, who kept his cool and finished into an unguarded net.

The away side then almost grabbed a quickfire second but McGinty made another excellent save, this time to deny Key’s arced effort from inside the box and push the ball onto the post.

In a frantic stoppage time, Stuart Findlay had a strike from distance saved by Blackman, before Brannagan hit an indirect free kick from inside the area into the wall, after Blackman was penalised for timewasting.

Oxford United (4-3-3): McGinty; Anderson (Findlay 62), Moore, Long, Brown; Bate, McGuane, Brannagan; Goodrham (Bodin 71), Taylor (O’Donkor 71), Wildschut (Murphy 62).

Unused subs: Plumley, Seddon, Johnson.

Booked: Brown.

Exeter City (3-4-1-2): Blackman; Sweeney, Diabate, Hartridge; Key, Collins, Kite, Caprice; Chauke (Stansfield 64); Brown (Sparkes 31), Nombe (Dieng 82).

Unused subs: Lee, Stubbs, Jay, Grounds.

Booked: Sparkes, Stansfield, Collins.

Referee: Darren Drysdale (Lincolnshire)

Attendance: 8,604 (619 visitors)