MARK Sykes’s first EFL goal continued Oxford United’s sensational festive period as victory at AFC Wimbledon sent them second in the table.

The Northern Irishman was one of five players brought into the side and his fresh legs ran on to Shandon Baptiste’s pass just after the hour mark to fire home.

It restored a lead which the visitors had initially taken in the first half, via an own goal from Shane McLoughlin.

Wimbledon levelled just after the break, but United responded to the challenge to claim a third straight win over the busy Christmas period.

And with the two sides above them at the start of the day losing, United will start 2020 in the Sky Bet League One automatic promotion places.

As expected, Robinson freshened up his side.

Half the outfield line-up from the Boxing Day victory over Lincoln City were changed and there was also a switch in formation.

Rob Hall started behind Jamie Mackie in a 4-2-3-1 system, while Sykes and Baptiste had roles out wide.

The hosts saw very little of the ball in the opening exchanges, but did have the ball in the net on 16 minutes.

Elliott Moore, another to come into the side, survived a handball shout when he blocked a shot. It fell for Joe Pigott to convert, only to look up and see the flag up.

United had overall looked the better outfit, particularly down the right flank where Sykes and Sam Long combined well.

So it was of little surprise that the pair were both involved for the opening goal, which arrived in the 26th minute.

Sykes played a ball to meet Long’s run and the full back swung in a wicked first-time cross. It was aimed for Baptiste at the back post but never reached him, as McLoughlin clumsily turned the ball into his own net.

United pushed for a second goal and on the half-hour mark a flowing move started by Jordan Archer ended with Mackie firing just wide from Sykes’s cross.

The forward then almost embarrassed Nathan Trott as the goalkeeper dawdled over a backpass and was then relieved to see the ball go out for a corner.

Wimbledon hit back to have a strong spell late in the half and Archer was forced to tip over from Terell Thomas after United failed to clear their lines.

The resulting corner fell to Luke O’Neill, whose firm header was straight at the U’s goalkeeper.

United reached half-time with their lead intact, but it was wiped out within two minutes of the restart.

Luke O’Neill was given time to measure a cross and Pigott got goal-side to classily volley into the net.

While Hall smashed a low shot just wide with the next attack, Wimbledon looked the more likely to score.

But having weathered a storm, United responded in fine style.

Seconds after taking an abysmal corner, passing it straight to a Wimbledon defender, Sykes raced on to a Baptiste pass and fired past Trott.

It was just his second U’s goal almost 12 months after signing – and with confidence flowing a third almost followed within minutes, but Trott tipped his 25-yard rocket over.

In between it took a double save from Archer to prevent an equaliser. After parrying Pigott’s shot, the goalkeeper dived in bravely to block Jack Rudoni on the rebound.

There was still a quarter of the game remaining, but that was as hard as the U’s goalkeeper had to work as the visitors closed out a hard-fought victory.

AFC Wimbledon (3-5-2): Trott, O’Neill, McDonald (Delaney 72), Thomas, McLoughlin (Wood 88), Sanders, Rudoni, Reilly, Guinness-Walker, Forss, Pigott.

Unused subs: McDonnell, Hartigan, Pinnock, Biler, Osew.

Booked: Guinness-Walker, Rudoni.

Oxford Utd (4-2-3-1): Archer, Long, Dickie, Moore, Ruffels, Gorrin, Brannagan (Mousinho 86), Sykes, Hall (Fosu 58), Baptiste, Mackie (Taylor 90).

Unused subs: Stevens, Cadden, Henry, Agyei.

Booked: Brannagan.

Referee: Sam Purkiss (London).

Attendance: 4,763 (776 visitors).