Chris Wilder praised Asa Hall for “coming to the party” as his Oxford United team eased to their biggest away win of the season.

Hall hit a double and fellow midfielder Paul McLaren got his first goal for the U’s as they won 3-0 at Morecambe on Saturday.

And after the stylish win at the Globe Arena against the Shrimps, the U’s must feel the world is their oyster.

Although still eighth in npower League Two, they are now just three points off an automatic promotion place.

Other teams have games in hand, but with the top of the table as tight as it has been all season, it’s all to play for.

For Hall, who had not found the net until his recent goal at home to Shrewsbury, there was understandable delight – for both him and his manager.

Wilder said: “When I signed Asa, I told the fans he scores from midfield – and he has now come to the party.

“He took both his goals well and showed exactly why we brought him here. His first goal was a tap-in, but his second was superbly taken.

“The boy has been really unlucky before not to score more than he has done.

“I thought he was exceptional in there. The shape was good, the front three got hold of it and were a handful all afternoon.

“This was a really good win against a good Morecambe side who played some decent stuff.

“They pressed us well, but when they did, I thought we defended well with our two centre halves were outstanding.

“I was delighted with the quality showed. We deserved the result and that performance. I’m a happy manager and it’s a happy bus on the way home.”

U’s keeper Ryan Clarke saved a spot-kick late in the game, his second successive penalty stop.

“He’s getting quite a reputation now, isn’t he?” Wilder commented.

“I was a bit disappointed that we just switched off to concede it, and it was important that we got that clean sheet because that all helps to give us that confidence going forward.”

Hall admits he has had to change his goals expectation for the campaign “I said at the start of the season I was hoping for 15,” he said.

“I think that was a bit optimistic. I might have to amend that now to ten, or maybe even six.”