Oxford United eased past Northampton Town to secure their first win over the Cobblers since 2014.
A brace from Matty Taylor and second half goals from Mide Shodipo and Dan Agyei gave the U’s their biggest win of the season, keeping a third clean sheet in four games in the process.
The win lifts the U’s up to 17th in the table, two points clear of the bottom four.
Here's how #oufc start tonight's game. pic.twitter.com/xasFXc8ikZ
— Oxford Mail OUFC (@OxfordMailOUFC) December 15, 2020
Karl Robinson made two changes from the side that drew at Blackpool with John Mousinho replacing the injured Rob Atkinson in defence and Shodipo in for Jordan Obita on the left of midfield.
Jack Stevens began in gaol behind a back four of Josh Ruffels, Mousinho, Elliott Moore and Sam Long.
Alex Rodriguez Gorrin sat behind Marcus McGuane and Liam Kelly in midfield with Shodipo and James Henry as the wide men. Taylor continued up top.
Having come to against some top sides in recent weeks, the U’s run of upcoming fixtures looks favourable. However, it was the visitors that started brighter and Ryan Watson saw his effort blocked by the Oxford defence.
Oxford responded with an early chance of their own. MgGuane found Long but the full-backs cross had too much power for Taylor make a meaningful connection.
That was as good as it got in the opening half an hour and there was a concern when Mousinho went down with a knee injury. The captain resumed and Oxford came close to an opener moments later. McGuane was involved again and the on-loan Nottingham Forest midfielder teed up Ruffels who saw his curling right-foot effort strike the post.
At the break, Robinson brought Sean Clare on to replace Mousinho with the former Hearts man playing on the right while Long moved to the middle. The change proved to pivotal as it took just four minutes into the second half for the U’s to take the lead. Clare whipped in a teasing cross and Taylor got there before two Cobblers players to head home from close range.
The U’s had their tails up and Taylor came close moments later but his header deflected behind off a defender.
Caleb Chukwuemeka fired over for the visitors before Moore blocked Harry Smith’s effort. It proved costly for Cobblers as the U’s countered and Shodipo cut inside from the left before whipping the ball into the far corner.
Northampton captain Fraser Horsfall headed wide for the visitors soon after but the U’s looked to add more goals. McGuane and Shodipo both had efforts blocked before Long headed a Henry free-kick over from close range.
But just before full time, Taylor added a third and his seventh goal of the season, heading home substitute Agyei’s cross.
The former Burnley man then added a fourth in injury time, cutting in from the right and whipping the ball into the far corner.
The win moves the U’s up to 17th but are in danger of slipping back down next weekend after their game against Bristol Rovers was postponed.
