Jesurun Rak-Sakyi scored his first Stoke City goal to further damage Oxford United's flagging Championship survival bid.

The 23-year-old, on loan from Crystal Palace, grabbed the winner in the 56th minute to ease the pressure on the Potters being dragged into a relegation scrap and leave them seven points shy of the play-off places.

The same cannot be said for the U's, who find themselves six points adrift of safety and West Brom in 21st place.

Lamine Cisse opened the scoring for the hosts, before Ciaron Brown levelled for Oxford on the stroke of half-time.

Stoke stirred early on when Tommy Simkin released a 12th-minute pass through the middle for Million Manhoef. He played in Rak-Sakyi, who fired a low shot at Jamie Cumming.

The Oxford goalkeeper was forced into action again just five minutes later when he denied Eric Bocat's low drive.

The opening third of the game was dominated by Stoke, with the home side maintaining possession, albeit unable to find a breakthrough. Sorba Thomas was the next player to test his luck, with his 20th-minute shot flying wide of the post.

The visitors had to wait until the 25th minute for their first sight of the Stoke goal, when Will Lankshear's shot from the edge of the area was gathered by Simkin.

The deadlock was finally broken on 37 minutes thanks to a swift move, with Manhoef playing in Cisse, who converted sweetly past Cumming.

Despite their first-half dominance, the Potters were pegged back on the stroke of half-time. Will Vaulks chipped the ball into the box, finding the unmarked Stanley Mills, who headed the ball across the face of the goal for Brown to volley home from eight yards.

Oxford went close to a second on 53 minutes when Lankshear backheeled a powerful Cameron Brannagan free-kick against the Stoke crossbar.

But, just three minutes later, the hosts had restored their lead as Rak-Sakyi was at the far post to head home following a delicate left-wing cross from Thomas for his eighth assist of the campaign.

The hosts could have scored a third 18 minutes before the end when Cisse could only watch in anguish as his looping attempt was cleared away by Vaulks.

Stoke City manager Mark Robins told BBC Radio Stoke:

"I'm pleased with some of the performance and the result, immensely. I am pleased with the way the supporters stuck by us and helped us get that result over the line.

"When there is an opponent sat in front of you with a low block or a mid block then it is really difficult to break down. We knew we had to play in a certain way, and I thought we got the balance almost spot on.

"The only disappointment for me was the defending on the set-play and we allowed them back into the game when we should have been one, two or three up by that stage.

"We were brave, took the ball in good positions, and to all intents and purposes did the right thing a lot of the time. I'm still looking for more. It isn't quite there yet, but it was enough to win the game. It was a really good three points. It is a step forward for us."

Oxford head coach Matt Bloomfield told BBC Radio Oxford:

"Two soft goals from our point of view, I didn't think we hit the same levels as we did on Saturday at Middlesbrough.

"I'd have liked us to be more solid out of possession, but we found our way back into the game, hit the bar and we could be talking about a different result right now.

"We're playing against top opposition every week and our boys have been great recently - our performance levels have been very good.

"But we have to be at our best every week, we hit those levels at times tonight, but at times I felt our shape was a little bit open for what we wanted, especially away from home.

"There's certainly things we can go after again."