JON Obika extended his scoring streak as Oxford United were beaten by a strong Crystal Palace side in a pre-season friendly at the Kassam Stadium.

The striker put the home side in front nine minutes before the interval with his seventh goal in five games.

Goalkeeper Simon Eastwood made two outstanding saves to deny Wilfried Zaha, but the £70m-rated star finally got the better of him with a quality finish 11 minutes into the second half.

And while Jeffrey Schlupp quickly put Palace in front and Sulley Kaikai added a third late on, United will have taken plenty of encouragement from their display.

With new signing Jamie Mackie deemed not ready to play, United boss Karl Robinson named arguably his strongest available line-up.

Gavin Whyte came straight in for his debut after international clearance was finally granted, starting on the left flank.

Palace meant business too, with Roy Hodgson fielding a host of Premier League regulars in his XI.

The visitors looked every inch the top-flight outfit early on, as United were forced to chase the ball for the first time in pre-season.

Robinson’s men had to work hard to limit the chances, but on 20 minutes they needed Eastwood on top form to keep out Zaha’s powerful shot.

While the rebound just fell out of Schlupp’s reach, Palace regained possession and Alexander Sorloth should have done better than heading wide at the back post when the ball came back in.

But gradually United got their way into the game, Whyte heading wide from Tony McMahon’s cross just before a drinks break.

The home side were seeing more of the ball, but Palace’s threat was still there. Just after the half-hour mark, Rob Dickie was needed to make a superb block on Andros Townsend after Josh Ruffels had given the ball away cheaply.

For all United’s bright moments on the ball, they lacked a clear chance until they opened the scoring in the 36th minute.

Cameron Brannagan looked over the top for the first time and picked out a perfect pass for Obika. The striker got to the ball just before Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and then took his time to fire a shot past James Tomkins on the line.

Townsend curled a 25-yard shot on to the roof of the net as the visitors searched for a quick response.

But United held firm and when Zaha blazed over under pressure from Dickie and Curtis Nelson, they reached the interval with the lead intact.

It took a wonderful save from Eastwood with his right boot to keep out Zaha’s header from Patrick van Aanholt’s cross six minutes after the restart.

But the forward finally got on the scoreboard five minutes later, racing away from Dickie to fire into the top corner for the equaliser.

And within a flash, Palace were ahead.

Zaha was deemed onside when he was found all alone in the box and although Whyte managed to stop him getting a shot away, the ball fell for Schlupp to slot in an easy finish from eight yards.

It was the cue for the first United substitutions, as Malachi Napa and Shandon Baptiste replaced Whyte and James Henry.

Napa came close to making a rapid impact, but after buying himself space on the edge of the box, the winger’s deflected shot was dragged wide.

While Brannagan had a free-kick saved, Palace had chances to make the scoreline more comfortable in the latter stages.

Eastwood again came to the fore, keeping out Jason Puncheon just after he came off the bench.

Another substitute, Kaikai, did make it 3-1 from Townsend's cutback three minutes from time.

United’s pre-season continues at home to Leeds United on Tuesday.

Oxford Utd: Eastwood, McMahon (Norman 73), Dickie (Raglan 73), Nelson (Mousinho 73), Garbutt, Brannagan, Ruffels (Hall 73), Whyte (Baptiste 62), Carruthers, Henry (Napa 62), Obika (Lopes 73).

Unused subs: Stevens.

Crystal Palace: Hennessey (Guaita HT), Wan-Bissaka (Ward 70), Tomkins, Sakho, Van Aanholt, Townsend, McArthur (Puncheon 83), Riedewald, Schlupp (Williams 83), Zaha, Sorloth (Kaikai 70).

Unused subs: Souare, Lokilo, Woods, Kelly.

Referee: John Busby (Oxfordshire).

Attendance: 3,479 (914 visitors).