The reported dismissal became the defining moment. With Wigan down to 10, Oxford had greater space and control in the closing stages, while the visitors faced the harder task of protecting their shape and threatening on the counter.
That does not automatically make the result a comfortable one. A one-goal margin indicates a tight contest, and Oxford still needed a decisive moment to turn pressure into points.
Andrews’ reported 76th-minute strike gave Oxford the breakthrough when it mattered most. Late winners often carry extra value because they reward patience while punishing a tiring, undermanned opponent.
For Oxford, the key takeaway is not simply the goal itself but the response to a changing match. The home side appears to have recognised the advantage created by Wigan’s dismissal and converted it before the contest slipped into a nervy finish.
The report describes Wigan as the bottom club, making the defeat particularly damaging in the wider picture. Losing after taking the match deep into the second half will increase scrutiny on their discipline and ability to protect results under pressure.
Oxford, meanwhile, have a narrow victory to build on. The next fixture will show whether this was the start of a stronger run or simply a hard-fought home win shaped by one major turning point.