WANDERERS slipped to a demoralising 2-0 defeat against Oxford United at the Macron Stadium on Saturday. Here's how we feel the players rated.

WANDERERS - (4-4-2 diamond)

MARK HOWARD… 6.5 One excellent save at the end but left marooned for the second goal. Hardly a busy afternoon but did what was required of him.

JOSH VELA… 5.5 Not the way he would have wanted to celebrate his new contract. At right-back and lost Thomas for the first goal.

DAVID WHEATER… 6 Has been in dominant form of late but he didn’t really come under intense pressure and was caught forward for the second in injury time.

MARK BEEVERS… 6 Like Wheater, didn’t really have to kick into gear defensively until it was too late. A reasonable return to the side after illness.

DEAN MOXEY… 4 Allowed too much space for the cross for Oxford’s first and was played into trouble, but lost the ball for the second. Poor.

JAY SPEARING… 6 Not nearly as commanding as he has been this season. Wanderers’ general malaise stemmed from midfield.

JAMES HENRY… 5 A few nice touches and combinations early on hinted at something more from the Wolves loanee but it amounted to very little in the end.

LIAM TROTTER… 4 Almost invisible. By-passed for most of the game and did not get involved in the final third as Parkinson would have liked.

ANDREW TAYLOR… 5.5 Used in a midfield role to offer some balance on the left but looked at odds with the role he was being asked to play.

ZACH CLOUGH… 5.5 Still waiting for the magic to return for the young striker. Snatched at one half-chance and is better than this.

GARY MADINE… 6.5 Honest, if nothing else. Madine may have been the pick of the outfield bunch on work-rate alone.

Subs: Ameobi 68 (for Henry) – ineffective 4

Proctor 68 (for Madine) – ineffective 4

Anderson 68 (for Clough) – ineffective 4

Not used: Alnwick, Derik, Wilson, Thorpe

Oxford United (4-4-2): Eastwood, Edwards, Raglan, Dunkley, Skarz, Rothwell, Sercombe, Lundstram, Johnson, Maguire, Hemmings.

Subs: McDonald (for Johnson) 46, Thomas (for Rothwell) 64 Not used: Crowley, Buchel, Ruffels, Taylor, Long.

Opposition star man: Alex McDonald Changed the second half with his willing running down the channels. Unlucky not to score – but swung the game Oxford’s way.

MATCH STATS

Possession: Wanderers – 44 Oxford - 56

Shots on target: Wanderers – 0 Oxford - 3

Shots off target: Wanderers – 3 Oxford - 8

Corners: Wanderers – 6 Oxford - 9

Offsides: Wanderers – 1 Oxford - 4

Goals: Wanderers – None Oxford – Morgan 81, Maguire 90

Card count: Yellows: Wanderers – Vela, Beevers, Trotter Oxford - Lundstram

Attendance: 14,207

Referee – Michael Haywood 6

Few curious decisions but nothing to change the course of the game.

Atmosphere – 6 Well, Oxford’s fans enjoyed it. The furious reaction at the end said it all for Wanderers.

Entertainment – 4 Poor game. Oxford deserved to win it by virtue of showing some attacking intent in the second half.