Oxford United continued their impressive recent run as Karl Robinson’s side eased past Gillingham at the Kassam Stadium.
A first-half brace from James Henry came either side of Matty Taylor’s third goal in as many games, extending the U’s unbeaten run to five in all competitions.
Your #oufc XI this afternoon: pic.twitter.com/cBo5WTmGZ1
— Oxford Mail OUFC (@OxfordMailOUFC) September 28, 2019
Robinson made just one change from the side that thumped Lincoln City 6-0 last weekend, with Taylor replacing Jamie Mackie upfront.
Simon Eastwood began in goal, behind a back four of Josh Ruffels, John Mousinho, Rob Dickie and Chris Cadden.
Alex Rodriguez Gorrin sat deeper in midfield, a role which has been crucial during this run, behind Cameron Brannagan and Ben Woodburn. Tariqe Fosu and Henry were on the wings with Taylor leading the line.
And this Oxford side, that hit Lincoln for six before hammering West Ham United 4-0 in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, didn’t take long to expose their goal-scoring prowess.
Inside ten minutes, the U’s made the breakthrough. A Gills corner was cleared and Fosu sprang a swift counter-attack, Woodburn and Henry combined before last seasons top scorer perfectly placed his effort into the top corner.
Shortly after, Woodburn saw his long-range effort well saved, before Mousinho’s header from a corner was also stopped by Jack Bonham.
The U’s remained on top and were relentless, and shortly after they added to their lead.
Taylor was found by Henry and the Oxford-born forward slotted home. Moments later, Taylor found Ruffels who’s cross met the head of Henry to give the U’s a three-goal advantage just after half an hour.
That goal was Henry’s fifth of the season, and he could have completed a hat-trick before the break but Bonham denied the 30-year-old before he struck the post after good play from Taylor.
The break was needed for Gillingham, but they could have netted just after the restart after an uncharacteristic error from Eastwood allowed Brandon Hanlon in, who set up Olly Lee, but his easy attempt hit the post.
One negative from the second half was the substitution of Dickie. The defender took a knock in the first half and the medical team decided to withdraw him from the match with the game seemingly already won.
But the U’s regained composure. Taylor volleyed over from Cadden’s cross before Brannagan was denied by a busy Bonham.
The hosts eased the game out in what has been a tiresome but hugely entertaining week, where Robinson’s side have kept five successive clean sheets and have scored thirteen goals in three games.
