YORK City lost their third home game of the season and the 2-1 defeat to Oxford prompted a section of supporters to call for manager Russ Wilcox’s dismissal.

Kemar Roofe’s 71st-minute goal secured the points for promotion hopefuls Oxford at Bootham Crescent after on-loan Oldham striker Rhys Turner had earlier scored his first goal for the Minstermen to cancel out Danny Hylton’s opener for the hosts. City made three changes to the side that started Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Notts County with Marvin McCoy, Ben Godfrey and Turner replacing injured trio Eddie Nolan, Luke Summerfield and Emile Sinclair.

The visitors were unchanged and signalled their intent from the first whistle with overlapping right-back George Baldock collecting John Lundstram’s pass before delivering a teasing low centre that travelled across the six-yard box as far as Danny Rose on the far post.

His goalbound attempt was then crucially diverted over by Keith Lowe’s outstretched leg.

For City, McCoy’s cross was only cleared as far as Godfrey but his edge-of-the-box effort lacked the power to trouble Sam Slocombe and the U’s went on to take a tenth-minute lead when Godfrey overran the ball and lost possession in his own half.

Liam Sercombe’s through ball subsequently released Hylton, who coolly rounded Scott Flinders and found the net.

Moments later, Turner sidefooted wide from ten yards after a positive burst down the left by Josh Carson whilst, at the other end, Sercombe’s 30-yard drive was gathered at the second attempt by Flinders.

James Berrett, meanwhile, curled a 25-yard attempt wide of Slocombe’s near post and Russell Penn headed into the former York College keeper’s hands having thrown himself at a McCoy cross before Turner was gifted a 38th-minute equaliser by a massive breakdown in communication.

The on-loan Oldham striker found himself with the ball at his feet and an unguarded goal in front of him after Oxford centre-back Johnny Mullins had headed the ball past Slocombe, who had been lured out of his goal by a hopeful City punt forward.

Turner completed the formality of opening his account for Russ Wilcox’s men and the hosts were back in the game after chasing shadows for long periods of the first period.

City, who had changed from 3-5-2 to 4-3-3 late in the first half, also had the first chance following the restart with Berrett’s venomous 15-yard volley pushed away by Slocombe after Reece Thompson’s right-wing cross.

But Roofe’s curling free kick was saved by Flinders after Dave Winfield was shown his fifth yellow card of the season, meaning he will be suspended for Saturday’s home match with Cambridge.

Roofe also curled a 20-yard shot inches wide of Flinders’ top left-hand corner on the hour, while Rose could not find the power to beat the City keeper after sliding in for another chance at the far post.

Former West Brom striker Roofe continued to threaten and fired narrowly wide from 25 yards, while Jake Wright’s sidefooted edge-of-the-box effort was safely gathered by Flinders as City came under increasing pressure.

After another Roofe shot was deflected over, Oxford forged in front from the resulting 71st-minute corner.

Mullins’ shot was cleared by Godfrey, who was covering a post, but the ball ricocheted back into the net off Roofe.

The goal was greeted with a chant of ‘You’re Getting Sacked in the Morning’, directed at Wilcox from fans in the David Longhurst Stand.

Winfield was thrown up front as an emergency striker moments later and Berrett went on to flash a good ten-yard chance wide of Slocombe’s near post.

Loud shouts for a home penalty after an apparent handball were also turned down on 89 minutes while away sub Jordan Graham dragged an eight-yard shot wide at the death before renewed calls for Wilcox’s dismissal at the final whistle.

City Scott Flinders: 6 Keith Lowe: 6 Dave Winfield: 5 Femi Ilesanmi: 6 Marvin McCoy: 6 Russell Penn: 6 Ben Godfrey: 5 James Berrett: 6 Josh Carson: 6 Rhys Turner: 6 Reece Thompson: 5 Subs: Anthony Straker 6 (for Carson, 57), David Tutonda 5 (for Thompson, 69).

Subs not used: Michael Ingham, John McCombe, Callum Rzonca, Taron Hare, Tom Platt.

Oxford Sam Slocombe, George Baldock, Johnny Mullins, Jake Wright, Joe Skarz, Callum O’Dowda, Liam Sercombe, John Lundstram (Jordan Graham, 72), Danny Rose, Danny Hylton, Kemar Roofe (Ryan Taylor, 80). Subs not used: Patrick Hoban, Alex MacDonald, Benjamin Buchel, Josh Ruffels, Chey Dunkley.

Referee: David Webb. Rating: 6/10 Booked: Winfield 55.

Attendance: 2,791 (318 from Oxford) Shots on target: City 4, Oxford 11 Shots off target: City 3, Oxford 5 Corners: City 2, Oxford 12 Fouls conceded: City 9, Oxford 8 Offsides: City 3 , Oxford 2