Oxford United stretched their unbeaten run to ten games with victory over Rochdale in League One.
First-half goals from Josh Ruffels and Tariqe Fosu put the hosts in control before Sam Long added a third five minutes from time.
It’s the fourth successive 3-0 home win in League One for the U’s.
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— Oxford Mail OUFC (@OxfordMailOUFC) October 26, 2019
Karl Robinson made two changes from last weekends win at Rotherham with Rob Dickie returning from suspension, replacing Elliott Moore, while Jamie Mackie came in for Matty Taylor who picked up his fifth yellow card of the season last time out.
Simon Eastwood remained in goal, with Ruffels, John Mousinho, Dickie and Chris Cadden as the back four.
Alex Rodriguez Gorrin sat in behind the midfield, which featured Cameron Brannagan and James Henry for the third successive game.
Fosu began on the left while Mark Sykes continued on the right with Mackie leading the line.
Rochdale headed into the game having won three matches in succession, and looked likely to be involved in a physical encounter.
Inside two minutes Brannagan was involved in a physical 50/50 challenge which the former Liverpool man came off worse.
The visitors struck over shortly after from Matt Done, before Brannagan sat down to receive treatment, but the midfielder continued.
Before ten minutes, Dale struck over again when Eoghan O’Connell saw his effort sail high after Skyes slipped on the wet surface.
It took until after ten minutes before the U’s had their first chance. From a Brannagan corner, Ruffels saw his flicked header sail wide but the hosts were getting into the game.
And ten minutes later, the same two players were involved again when Brannagan’s delivery from the corner was met by Gorrin before Ruffels stabbed home his second goal of the season.
Fosu then saw his 25-yard free-kick parried by Jay Lynch, before Rochdale failed to equalise from their first corner.
And they were soon punished as at the other end, Brannagan smashed the bar before Fosu cooly slotted home his eighth goal of the season.
Minutes later, the U’s should have been three goals up but Henry failed to reach Cadden’s cross.
The chances were coming thick and fast for Oxford, with Mackie heading wide before being denied by Lynch just sixty seconds later.
From another corner, Mousinho failed to connect with his header, before the visitors were reduced to ten men after Aaron Wilbraham lunged in on Fosu to receive a straight red card five minutes before the break.
The U’s held out till half time following another solid display against physical opposition.
At the start of the second half, Brannagan was replaced by Shandon Baptiste. Five minutes later, Sykes came close to a sensational goal, but the Northern Irishman fired his effort over after running through the defence from his own half.
Cadden then went down and replaced by Long, before Sykes had a penalty appeal waved away.
Down the left, Fosu was his usual tricky self, but Mackie was unable to turn in the former Charlton mans cross.
Oxford were beginning to dominate against the ten-man opposition, with Baptiste and Henry both squandering chances to extend the lead.
Against the run of play, Dale had the ball in the back of the net but Ian Henderson was offside. Moments later, Lynch was on hand again to deny Fosu.
Sykes had two efforts blocked before Rob Hall replaced Fosu. Hall then had a penalty claim waved away before Mackie squandered yet another opportunity.
Five minutes before the end, Hall’s free-kick found Henry who saw his effort blocked but Long was on hand to add the third.
Henry saw yet another effort sail wide but the missed chances didn’t put a downer on another dominant display for Oxford who are now ten games unbeaten.
Oxford now look ahead to Tuesday where they welcome Sunderland in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
