ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman has always said that he hates October and just 72 hours into the 2015 version he had good reason to mourn the passing of September.

The Reds went into their game with Oxford United unbeaten in eight League Two games, having won their last four and within touching distance of top spot but left the Wham Stadium on the end of a 3-1 defeat.

The visitors arrived with a game plan to frustrate and contain and ultimately it worked with Stanley giving up three bad goals and unable to continue their good form at the other end of the pitch.

Coleman named an unchanged side from the one that had beaten Yeovil and went closest to an early goal through the in form Josh Windass.

His chip from long range had visiting goalkeeper Sam Slocombe beaten but dropped onto the roof of the net to deny him a fifth goal in just four matches.

Michael Appleton’s Oxford took the lead with their first clear cut opening on 21 minutes.

The ball broke somewhat fortuitously to Kemar Roofe on the left and his low cross found wide man Callum O’Dowda who drilled in a shot that seemed to slip under Stanley keeper Jason Mooney.

The vocal visiting fans now had reason to celebrate but the Reds tried to respond with Sean McConville heading straight at Slocombe as they looked to level things up.

It was 1-0 to the visitors at the break and Coleman was forced into a half time change with the returning Dean Winnard off the bench to replace head injury victim Joe Wright as Stanley’s defensive injury problems worsened.

But it was via defenders that they threatened to get back on terms, with Liam Wakefield’s shot cum cross flying narrowly over and Matty Pearson driving wide.

In more familiar territory the Reds backline had to be on their guard as they were forced to scramble a Roofe effort off the line to keep the deficit down to just one.

However that deficit was soon gone altogether thanks to another goal from Matt Crooks.

With 20 minutes left Seamus Conneely stole the ball and fed his fellow midfielder, who let fly from 20 yards and beat Slocombe into the top right corner. The former Huddersfield man had scored in the last two games as well.

Now the momentum was with the home team and they should have been in front moments later.

Slocombe could only parry Conneely’s shot out to McConville, his follow up was blocked, Billy Kee then hit the bar before McConville inexplicably put the ball over from inside the six yard box. The lack of killer instinct would prove costly.

Just when it seemed a draw was on the cards, Oxford restored their lead. Sub Jordan Graham fizzed a low cross from the right and the impressive Liam Sercombe arrived late to meet it and beat Mooney.

And Sercombe wasn’t finished, adding a third from the penalty spot three minutes from time.

Again Roofe was to the fore, tricking into the box before being hauled down by Wakefield.

Sercombe stepped up secured the three points.