SETTING up Oxford United’s second goal was just as pleasing for Marvin Johnson as opening the scoring – but the winger says Rob Hall now owes him an assist.

The decision by head coach Michael Appleton to deploy the pair in different roles paid off handsomely in the 4-0 win at Rochdale.

Johnson, restored to his natural position on the left wing, fired in the opener, before teeing up Hall, playing as a striker, with a stunning backheel.

The winger said: “I enjoy creating goals as much as scoring them.

“I was buzzing to score the first and set up the second one with a backheel – it wasn’t a basic goal so I’m pretty pleased it came off.

“In the past few weeks we’ve been playing on the same side and trying to help each other out. I guess he owes me one now.”

While United have found the net regularly in recent cup games, they had scored just twice in the previous four Sky Bet League One fixtures.

Johnson felt it was inevitable someone would be on the end of a hiding sooner or later.

And he hopes when they return to league action in a fortnight – the derby at Swindon Town – United can begin to push deeper into the top half.

He said: “In the past league games we’ve been playing well and creating a lot of chances without scoring as many goals. But it was only a matter of time we did that.

“Other teams are aware we like to play and when we’re on our day we can almost be unstoppable.

“It’s just a few games where we haven’t got the result we deserved and ended up hovering around the same position.

“It’s a good start, we’ve got the next two cup games and then hopefully follow it into the next league game.”