A BUMPER crowd, board members watching on and the last Sky Bet League One game for a fortnight – Oxford United had to seize the moment.

It was far from their best display of the season, but the feel-good atmosphere around the Kassam Stadium at full-time meant that did not matter.

Those new members of the 8,500-strong home support may not have realised just how much Cameron Brannagan might be missed when the teams were announced at 2pm.

The midfielder has arguably been United's star performer this season, but his absence illustrated the strength in depth in that position.

Alex Gorrin is a completely different player, but brought balance and stability to the midfield on a day when the U's were not on top form.

The Spaniard was replaced by Marcus McGuane late on - do not forget this was a player viewed as an automatic starter when he signed permanently.

WATCH: Highlights of yesterday's game

United were solid if unspectacular, which perhaps showed the importance of a fit Brannagan and in-form Herbie Kane for them to be at their best.

A clear first-choice XI is emerging, with those two in midfield alongside James Henry, a settled back four and Mark Sykes, Matty Taylor and Nathan Holland all in the groove.

The U's scored first for a ninth successive game and Steve Seddon’s 29th-minute opener was pleasing for two reasons.

Not only did it break United’s duck from set-pieces, but it helped set the tone for the left back’s best display for several weeks.

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Despite this, the first 70 minutes showed why Morecambe are more than just plucky underdogs with a striker in the form of his life.

Yes, they have the stereotypical qualities of a club punching above their weight in League One, but left back Greg Leigh, left winger Wes McDonald and midfielder Toumani Diagouraga all caught the eye, as well as Cole Stockton.

Morecambe deserved to level through their top goalscorer and a draw would not have been a total injustice.

United's win at Sheffield Wednesday was the only League One game they have won after their opponents equalised, so you feared the worst.

They did not just respond through Mark Sykes, but controlled the final 20 minutes in a way you rarely see from teams with a one-goal lead.

Read also: Matty Taylor thrilled to be in the thick of the action again

Matty Taylor had already claimed two assists and won a penalty when he chipped Jokull Andresson for United's third, rounding off another excellent all-round display.

He might just be the most important player at the club right now, with Sam Winnall rarely fit and Dan Agyei still struggling to make his mark.

The statistics look good for United: four wins in a row, 15 points from the last six league games and sixth in the table.

It is a satisfying way to go into a two-week break from the third tier, before their promotion credentials are really tested at Ipswich Town and Wigan Athletic.