Wednesday failed to keep the celebrations going on-the-field at Hillsborough this afternoon as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat to Oxford.

Yesterday’s news of the exit of owner Dejphon Chansiri saw a 27,000-plus crowd in buoyant mood before kick off, a far cry from the boycotts and protests from fans since the start of the season … all aimed firmly at Chansiri.

However, it was Oxford who looked the more dangerous in the opening stages and they went ahead on 12 minutes through a Will Lankshear header.

Bailey Cadamarteri hit the side netting with one effort and then saw a shot saved by keeper Jamie Cumming but Oxford doubled their lead nine minutes before the break when Cameron Brannagan drove home a low long-range free kick.

As in some recent games, we came out for the second half in more attacking mode and got just the start we needed on 53 minutes when young Sean Fusire seized on a loose ball in the box and fired home his first senior goal for the club.

That was just the spark we needed and Wednesday dominated for long spells but again lacked that killer instinct in the box.

Cadamarteri was inches away from connecting with Svante Ingelsson’s low cross, Harry Amass had a header saved and Oxford had to cope with a series of  crosses and long throws into the box.

Then came our best chance of an equaliser just a minute from the end of normal time when the ball found Jamal Lowe in the box but his well-struck  volley was straight at keeper Jamie Cumming and with it went any hope of an equaliser.

The defeat leaves us on the bottom of the Championship on minus 6 points – following Friday’s 12-point deduction – and 16 points from safety.

Lumley, Fusire (McNeill 76), Palmer, Iorfa, M Lowe, Amass, Valery, Ingelsson, Bannan, J Lowe, Cadamarteri (Ugbo 63). Unused subs: Horvath, Emery, Otegbayo, Johnson, Alao, Thornton, Fernandes. Att: 27,261.