A RAPID three-goal burst in the second half saw Oxford United ruthlessly exploit a red card to claim a fourth straight away win and consolidate their position in the Sky Bet League Two automatic promotion places.

The game's decisive moment came midway through the second half, when Shaun Miller was given a straight red card for a poor lunge on Joe Skarz.

It had been a slog for United, whose bright start which saw Kemar Roofe open the scoring was halted by Lee Molyneux's chipped equaliser.

But they put Morecambe to the sword after the dismissal.

John Lundstram and Danny Hylton struck from Callum O'Dowda corners, while Jordan Bowery added a fourth goal, which rendered Tom Barkhuizen's late effort a consolation.

The result saw United ease six points ahead of fourth-placed Wycombe Wanderers.

Oxford Mail:

  • John Lundstram fires past Barry Roche to put Oxford United back in front

The United teamsheet showed one change from the midweek draw with Mansfield.

Sam Slocombe paid for his errors on Tuesday night by dropping to the bench, as Benji Buchel took his place.

On a tricky surface, United quickly gained control and they were ahead with their first meaningful attack, in the ninth minute.

Chris Maguire's deep cross found Alex MacDonald, who squared first-time for Roofe to coolly tuck home from close range.

Morecambe were all at sea and in the next ten minutes they could easily have sunk without trace.

Liam Sercombe shot just wide, while Roofe and Johnny Mullins, the latter with a firm header at a corner, were denied by Barry Roche.

United were creating chances at will and the goalkeeper was also stretched by Jonjoe Kenny midway through the half.

But Roche quickly cleared his lines, allowing Molyneux to complete a quick counter-attack and expertly chip a stranded Buchel.

It was the forward's final act and he was distraught to be substituted with what looked like an injury before play restarted.

Within four minutes Roofe came close to his 20th goal of the season, heading just off target after excellent work on the right by MacDonald.

But the goal had boosted Morecambe, who went on to enjoy a good spell.

Buchel was untested, but United's back four were forced to work harder than at any other time in the half.

The visitors went on to regain the upper hand late in the half, when Chris Maguire twice fired over - the first of which cleared the stand.

The second half began scrappily and there was plenty of concern on the United bench when Roofe had to come off.

Their top scorer fell awkwardly avoiding a tackle and a couple of minutes later had to come off for Bowery, much to his reluctance.

United were toiling, prompting Zeli Ismail and Callum O'Dowda to be introduced to freshen up their attacking options.

It had little immediate effect, but midway through the half the game swung in their favour.

Sercombe had a shot charged down, triggering a race to the loose ball which was won by Joe Skarz, who was rashly tackled by Miller.

He was shown a straight red card - and United went for the jugular.

Within two minutes they were back in front, when O'Dowda's corner fell to Jake Wright, who calmly squared for Lundstram to slam high into the net.

It was quickly 3-1, when Hylton scrambled home from a yard out after Mullins's effort from another O'Dowda corner was blocked on the line.

Any lingering doubts over a Morecambe comeback were extinguished ten minutes from time.

Bowery ran on to a through ball and confidently smashed a shot past Roche.

United had won 5-1 at Stevenage in October to match their biggest away win in the Football League.

It was a record they could have reached again in the closing stages, where Bowery and Lundstram were denied their second goals of the afternoon by impressive saves from Roche.

Morecambe pulled a goal back in stoppage time, Barkhuizen converting from a corner where Buchel came and got nowhere near.

But it was only a consolation, as United saw out the remaining seconds to claim an important win.

Morecambe: Roche, Beeley, Dugdale, Parrish, Conlan (Edwards 41), Goodall, Fleming, Barkhuizen, Molyneux (Mullin 23), Ellison, Miller.

Unused subs: O'Hara, Kenyon, Bondswell, Bailey, Doyle.

Oxford Utd: Buchel, Kenny, Mullins, Wright, Skarz, MacDonald (Ismail 59), Sercombe, Lundstram, Maguire (O'Dowda 64), Roofe (Bowery 55), Hylton.

Unused subs: Slocombe, Dunkley, Evans, Ruffels.

Referee: Peter Bankes (Merseyside).

Attendance: 1,749 (536 visitors).