Oxford Utd 0, Blackburn Rovers 3 (Marshall pen 36, 76, Watt 45+1)

Michael Appleton's side, impressive 3-2 winners over Swansea in the third round earlier this month, were second best for almost all of this afternoon's match.

Paul Lambert's outfit did not allow the U's any time on the ball, hassling and pressuring all over the pitch as the hosts were unable to repeat their previous exploits.

In front of another Kassam Stadium full house, Ben Marshall grabbed a set-piece double, stroking home a 36th-minute penalty and then curling in a delightul free-kick 14 minutes from time.

In between, new signing Tony Watt fired home in first half injury time after dispossessing John Lundstram.

In fairness to the hosts, they kept going right to the end, and attentions will immediately to turn a potential Wembley trip in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and boosting their Sky Bet League Two promotion hopes at Exeter next weekend.

Appleton made one change from the side that beat Portsmouth 1-0.

Hero at Fratton Park Jordan Bowery was handed a first start, with Danny Hylton dropping to the bench.

Loan signing Jonjoe Kenny was named on the bench, with George Baldock making his final start before returning to parent club MK Dons.

Blackburn were dealt a huge blow before kick-off when leading scorer Jordan Rhodes, who enjoyed a brief spell on loan at Oxford, was sold to Middlesbrough for an initial fee of £9 million last night.

Rhodes was in the team hotel before travelling north late Friday evening. His departure meant Blackburn were only able to name six substitutes.

A capacity crowd reached fever pitch as the teams emerged from the tunnel, a sea of yellow and blue greeting the U's.

After a careful opening, the game came to life in the fifth minute following a mix-up in the Oxford defence.

Jake Wright and Johnny Mullins both left the ball for each other, and Simeon Jackson took advantage, racing towards goal.

Mullins nudged the Rovers striker, who went down and although the visitors pleaded with referee Andy Davies to issue a red card, the official just booked the United defender.

Ben Marshall curled the resulting free-kick just wide of Sam Slocombe's right-hand post.

Blackburn had the majority of possession in the opening ten minutes, without ever troubling Slocombe.

United gradually got into the game, Bowery getting behind the Rovers defence, but unable to find Alex MacDonald with a cut-back.

The game's first corner came in the 21st minute, and it almost brought a goal.

Rovers central defender Elliott Ward got a good connection and Slocombe was forced to make a good one-handed save.

Referee Davies then made a number of decisions to wind up the home fans, not giving a free-kick when Kemar Roofe was fouled, and then not booking Darragh Lenihan following a nasty challenge on Baldock.

Blackburn skipper Grant Hanley was next to try his luck, his long-range effort comfortable for Slocombe.

Immediately United went down the other end, and when it opened up in front of Liam Sercombe, the midfielder unleashed a right-foot shot that was tipped around a post by Jason Steele.

Callum O'Dowda then saw a vicious shot blocked as United started to enjoy far more of the ball.

However, against the run of play Blackburn took the lead.

Tony Watt played in Jackson, who had got the wrong side of Joe Skarz, and when the Blackburn striker went down, the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

It was clever play from the Blackburn man, and Marshall confidently stroked the ball into the bottom corner for a 36th-minute lead.

Tommy Spurr was booked tripping Baldock as United looked for an equaliser.

But they were grateful to Slocombe for keeping them just one goal behind, the U's keeper doing very well to tip over a Watt shot as Blackburn broke at pace.

However, when Lundstram gave the ball away cheaply, he was powerless to stop the visitors doubling their lead.

The United midfielder had been caught in possession twice before, but this time was made to pay as Watt seized the ball and advanced before firing a right-foot shot across Slocombe and into the bottom corner.

It was harsh on United, but left them with a mountain to climb after the break.

Blackburn continued to harry United, refusing to give them any time on the ball.

Wright did well to recover when Blackburn broke after his ball to Skarz was cut out, while at the other end Roofe saw a shot blocked after good work by MacDonald.

Bowery made way for Hylton just after the hour mark as United tried to find a way back into the game.

To be fair to the substitute, he did pose a different kind of threat and from some good closing down, Sercombe had another chance to shoot, but shanked his effort well wide.

Tom Lawrence had only been on the pitch for less than a minute when he surged into the United box, but the Blackburn man blazed over.

But the visitors made it 3-0 14 minutes from time when Jackson was fouled by Wright and Marshall curled a delightful free-kick into the bottom corner.

Hylton had an opportunity to pull a goal back but could not get his shot away.

As time ran out, United supporters turned their attentions to paying tribute to outgoing right back Baldock.

After chanting his name, the U's No 2 was replaced by Kenny with four minutes to go and received a standing ovation from every Oxford fan.

It was a disappointing way for his spell at the Kassam Stadium to end, but bigger challenges lay ahead for the U's, who have the perfect opportunity to put this result behind them at home to Millwall on Tuesday night where a trip to Wembley is the prize.

Oxford Utd (4-4-2): Slocombe, Baldock (Kenny 86), Mullins, Wright, Skarz (J Evans 77), MacDonald, Sercombe, Lundstram, O'Dowda, Roofe, Bowery (Hylton 63). Subs: Buchel, Ruffels, Ashby, Dunkley. Booked: Mullins, Baldock, Kenny.

Blackburn Rovers (4-4-2): Steele, Marshall, Hanley, Ward, Spurr, Bennett, Lenihan (Taylor 71), C Evans, Conway, Watt (Lawrence 61), Jackson. Subs: Raya, Henley, Kilgallon, Duffy. Booked: Spurr, Jackson, Lenihan, Conway.

Referee: Andy Davies.

Attendance: 11,647 (1,485).