Oxford scored twice from set pieces in the first half as they beat managerless West Brom 2-1 in a tense Championship relegation clash at the Kassam Stadium.

Stan Mills headed them in front in the 14th minute from Jamie Donley's corner, arching back to guide the ball beautifully into the top-left corner.

That was Oxford's first goal at home in more than nine hours - since Boxing Day - and they added another 12 minutes later when Will Lankshear nodded in a Cameron Brannagan free-kick from six yards which goalkeeper Max O'Leary maybe should have come for.

But substitute Ollie Bostock pulled a goal back for Albion after 33 minutes with a 25-yard shot that took a big deflection off Sam Long to leave keeper Jamie Cumming helpless.

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The visitors had plenty of the ball in the second half as they strove for an equaliser, but Oxford held on for a vital three points in their bid to beat the drop.

West Brom had James Morrison in interim charge following the midweek sacking of Eric Ramsay after just nine games.

Ramsay was shown the door in the wake of the 1-1 draw at home to Charlton that left the West Midlands outfit just a point above the relegation places.

For Morrison, 39, it is the third time he has stepped up to take charge.

Both teams were without key centre halves, Michal Helik coming in at late notice to replace Christ Makosso for the U's while the visitors continued to be without Nat Phillips through injury.

Earlier results had gone in favour of both these clubs, with Portsmouth, Blackburn and Leicester all falling to lunchtime defeats.

It was the Baggies who started the brighter, forcing a succession of corners in the opening minutes, all of them well defended.

Oxford did start putting together some promising moves, however, and Donley won the corner which brought the opening goal, with a shot that deflected over the bar.

Scoring twice in quick succession left many home fans in shock but Bostock's deflected strike brought them back to earth, and gave Albion some hope.

The importance of the game added to the nervousness of both sets of players, and defensive mistakes continued.

Striker Josh Maja had a header comfortably saved at the start of the second half as Albion began to dominate possession.

U's head coach Matt Bloomfield made a triple substitution midway through the second half to try to regain more control, and the move worked.

The Baggies had a great opportunity to level five minutes from time but Krystian Bielik planted his header wide from Alex Mowatt's free-kick.

Oxford held on to secure three vital points and their first home win since Bloomfield took charge.

The managers

Oxford's Matt Bloomfield:

"I think it's just a big relief.

"We wanted to get the first win (under me) at home, we wanted to get our first goals at home, and share a moment with our supporters and give them a lift with a league result that really puts us back in touch.

"The six minutes of stoppage time felt like a long time, and then they found another 20 seconds.

"All week I have been playing down the importance of this game. We just need to keep playing the games the way we want to play them - and be spot on tactically.

"It's just one result, and we want to be hungry for more. We hope it's a springboard for more.

"To get two goals ahead and then concede one, it was never going to be a comfortable second half.

"It felt the energy had come out a bit and what our substitutions enabled us to do was play a bit higher up the pitch. We showed our true character in that second half."

West Brom's interim boss James Morrison:

"We have to get real. I do feel let down by them.

"Maybe we're not as good as we think we are - maybe that's why we are where we are. You get what you deserve.

"We gave them two goals. I understand the criticism from our fans - they have every right to have a go at us, they're passionate about this club.

"The game started OK, we were putting pressure on them, and then the story of the season - we give them two goals.

"We said beforehand that set plays are big for them, but we just let it happen so that was very disappointing - and the manner of them.

"For the first one we had a throw-in, easily lost possession and we gave it away - that was the first corner. Defending that set play, my big centre half - where is he? It's in his zone, go and head it.

"The second one we give away a free-kick, and what happens, the ball in the box, the goalkeeper doesn't come to collect it, in the six-yard box - what chance have you got in a big game like this?

"I'm hurting inside - the manner of it, how big a game it was and to not have the personality around the box. We brought on an 18-year-old and he was the one who did the most damage.

"Maybe we've got to put out the biggest side we can put out and play for set plays - I don't see any other way.

"I didn't feel any threat in general play, it was just their threat from set plays."

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