OXFORD United produced an outstanding second-half display to hit Northampton Town for four and claim a morale-boosting victory.

Matty Taylor’s header got the U’s up and running four minutes after the break, before Mide Shodipo doubled the lead just after the hour.

Taylor made the points safe with his header at the end of normal time, before substitute Dan Agyei’s long-range effort put the icing on the cake.

It ended a run of three Sky Bet League One draws for United and lifted them to 17th in the table.

Rob Atkinson failed a fitness test earlier today, meaning club captain John Mousinho took his place at centre back alongside Elliott Moore.

Jordan Obita was not deemed able to start his fourth game in ten days so Shodipo started on the left, while Sean Clare was named on the bench after being left out at Blackpool on Saturday.

This game kick-started an easier run of fixtures for United on paper, but the home defence had to be alive in the opening seconds to block Ryan Watson’s effort.

The U’s had a chance of their own after four minutes, with Marcus McGuane spraying a lovely pass into the path of Sam Long.

United’s right back sent a dangerous cross in that was just too powerful for Taylor to direct towards goal, but the move showed promising intent from the hosts.

One of Northampton’s chief threats came through Sam Hoskins’ long throws towards big striker Harry Smith, although the time taken over each one saw the 2,000 fans grow increasingly frustrated.

The first period bubbled along nicely despite the lack of chances, with the only major stoppage coming when U’s captain John Mousinho went down holding his knee on the half-hour mark.

United held their breath, but the centre back got back to his feet and the hosts soon had their best chance of the half.

McGuane could not get the ball out of his feet from James Henry’s cross, but he managed to lay it off to Ruffels who struck the outside of the post from 18 yards.

United were unable to seriously trouble goalkeeper Steve Arnold again before half-time, although a string of three corners did give the Northampton defence something to think about.

Clare replaced Mousinho at the break, with Long moving to centre back, and it took just four minutes for the substitute to help the U’s break the deadlock.

The 24-year-old got to the byline and teased a cross just over the head of Arnold and Taylor had the easiest of tasks to nod home on the line.

United had the bit between their teeth and the striker almost doubled the lead moments later, but his diving header went behind off a defender.

The visitors did not threaten until just after the hour mark, when substitute Caleb Chukwuemeka fired over from 12 yards after Ruffels half-cleared a free-kick.

United had to be wary, but they doubled the lead 20 minutes into the second half.

Elliott Moore did brilliantly to block Harry Smith’s shot and the hosts broke through Shodipo, who cut inside to deliver a trademark finish into the far corner, via a deflection.

The U’s had breathing space but were not out of the woods and Northampton captain Fraser Horsfall fired a warning shot when he headed wide two minutes after the goal.

But United continued to push for a third to kill the game, with McGuane and Shodipo seeing shots blocked in quick succession.

They should have wrapped it up six minutes from time when Long headed Henry’s dinked free-kick over from eight yards, but Taylor soon made sure of the points.

Agyei checked back instead of trying to beat his man and he floated a cross towards the back post, with Arnold only able to get a hand to the striker’s header.

The provider turned scorer in stoppage-time, as he thumped home from the edge of the box to round off a successful evening.

Oxford United (4-3-3): Stevens, Long, Moore, Mousinho (Clare 46), Ruffels, Gorrin, McGuane (Agyei 85), Kelly (Hanson 77), Henry (Hall 90), Taylor, Shodipo (Obita 85).

Unused subs: Eastwood, Forde.

Booked: Kelly.

Northampton Town (4-1-2-1-2): Arnold, Harriman, Dyche, Horsfall, Hoskins, Lines (Adams 60), Watson, Sowerby (Missilou 69), Holmes, Smith, Rose (Chukwuemeka 55).

Unused subs: Mitchell, Marshall, Korboa, Ashley-Seal.

Booked: Holmes.

Referee: Declan Bourne (Nottinghamshire).

Attendance: 2,000.