RUBEN Rodrigues scored a brace as Oxford United claimed their first league win under Des Buckingham.

Rodrigues ensured United were ahead at the break at home to Burton Albion, when he drifted infield and smashed the ball into the roof of the net.

He doubled his tally for the afternoon in a similar vein to his opening goal, directing the ball home with a left-footed strike, before Marcus McGuane bent home a stunning strike from outside the penalty area.

Buckingham made two changes to the side which drew 1-1 at Reading in midweek, as Joe Bennett and Rodrigues came into the side for Jordan Thorniley and Josh McEachran respectively, with Bennett making his first league start since arriving as a free agent on November 30.

United controlled the opening 45 minutes, enjoying the lion’s share of the ball and the clearer sights of goal.

With six minutes on the clock, Stan Mills slipped the ball through to Rodrigues on the right, with the latter’s cross headed over by Josh Murphy at the back post.

Fin Stevens had a shot charged down inside the penalty box after a short corner, but the U’s took the lead after 25 minutes had been played.

Cameron Brannagan played a brilliant crossfield pass to Mills on the right-hand side, with the Everton loanee laying the ball off to Rodrigues.

The midfielder drifted inside and smashed the ball past Max Crocombe with a left-footed shot.

Rodrigues almost added to his tally when Fin Stevens hooked in a cross, and with the ball behind Rodrigues, he did well to direct a header goalwards, however Crocombe was able to hold the ball with ease.

Just after the half hour mark, Brannagan switched play out to the left, where Murphy cut inside Jake Caprice and fired over.

Bennett then did superbly well to keep the ball in, before crossing into the area, where Mills directed a shot off target.

The Brewers’ first shot of the match came with four minutes to go until the break, when Rekeem Harper blazed high and wide from the edge of the box.

The opening exchanges of the second period began at a steady pace, with Brewers skipper Deji Oshilaja heading off target from a left wing cross being the only chance of note in the first 10 minutes.

Brannagan was inches away from doubling the U’s lead shortly before an hour had been played, rattling the post with a shot from the left corner of the penalty area.

United then failed to capitalise on a spot of pinball in the Burton penalty area, before Mark Harris headed wide from Stevens’ wicked cross.

Mills was seeing more of the ball in the second half, and one driving run between defenders allowed him a shot at goal, which bobbled into the arms of Crocombe.

The Brewers were thwarted by a brilliant Ciaron Brown block after 65 minutes, as the Northern Ireland international threw his body in the way of Harper’s stinging volley.

Stevens then set Rodrigues free down the right, with the midfielder’s pullback reaching Harris, whose low effort was excellently blocked by Sam Hughes.

Josh Gordon shot from range for Burton, but his effort was high and wide of James Beadle’s goal.

With 13 minutes to go, Buckingham made his first alteration, bringing on Tyler Goodrham for Murphy on the left wing.

Goodrham was involved almost instantly, sliding the ball down the side for Harris, however the Welsh striker couldn’t get the better of Crocombe from the left channel of the penalty area.

Rodrigues secured his brace in similar fashion to his opener, slamming the ball home with another left-footed strike from inside the area.

McGuane netted the pick of the goals when he collected the ball outside the box and bent a delicious strike into Crocombe’s top left corner, leaving the goalkeeper grasping at thin air.

Oxford United (4-3-3): Beadle; Stevens, Moore, Brown, Bennett; Rodrigues (Smyth 90+2), McGuane, Brannagan; Mills (Henry 84), Harris (O’Donkor 90+2), Murphy (Goodrham 77).

Unused subs: Eastwood, Thorniley, McEachran.

Booked: None.

Burton Albion (4-2-3-1): Crocombe; Caprice, Hughes, Sweeney, Moon; Harper (Walker 77), Powell; Baah (Brayford 77), Oshilaja, Gordon (Bennett 77); Stockton.

Unused subs: Blackman, Kamwa, Carayol, Gilligan.

Booked: Gordon.

Referee: Martin Woods (Lancashire).

Attendance: 7,438 (150 visitors).