Gary Rowett won his first game in charge of Oxford United with a 3-2 win over Cardiff City this afternoon to lift themselves out of the bottom three.
Mark Harris opened the scoring before half time, and further goals from Ciaron Brown and Przemysław Płacheta in the second period gave the U's a commanding lead. Two late goals, from Cian Ashford and Callum Robinson, weren't enough to deprive United of the win in Rowett's first game in charge.
Rowett made two changes to the side that lost at Leeds on Saturday. Sam Long replaced Peter Kioso in defence, while Rúben Rodrigues came into the side in place of Owen Dale. There were places for Louie Sibley and Siriki Dembélé on the bench following lengthy recuperation from injuries.
The game started at a frantic pace, with the U's camped inside the Cardiff half for the first five minutes without creating any clear-cut chances.
Despite that, it was the visitors who fashioned the first real opportunity as they broke clear after 14 minutes, with Chris Willock's effort deflected onto the bar and Jamie Cumming then denying Yakou Méïté's follow up.
This was the signal for Cardiff to start taking the game to Oxford, but United's defence held firm, repelling everything that the Bluebirds threw at them.
United's opener came in the 41st minute and it owed a lot to former Cardiff players. Vaulks received the ball from Płacheta received the ball from former Bluebird Will Vaulks, and the winger's low cross found Cardiff boy Harris for his first strike since August.
In the 51st minute, United came desperately close to extending their lead as their press enabled them to steal possession deep in the Cardiff half. Rodrigues took the ball into the area but his shot arrowed inches wide of the far post.
It didn't take Oxford long to get that second goal, and again it was a former Cardiff player with the conversion, Brown rising highest from a Goodrham corner to power an unstoppable header past Jak Alnwick.
United weren't content to sit on their lead and just three minutes later Cameron Brannagan powered in a fierce strike that Alnwick gathered at the second attempt.
It didn't take long for that third goal to arrive, and when it came it was an absolute beauty from Polish winger Płacheta. He picked up the ball 25 yards out, worked a shooting position and powered his striker out of Alnwick's reach to give U's fans a real Boxing Day treat.
In the 82nd minute Cardiff ruined the clean sheet as Ashford shot home from an angle to give the visitors some hope of a comeback. This was almost realised when Anwar El Ghazi found himself clean through on goal, but Cumming came racing out of his area and timed his challenge perfectly to make the tackle and possibly save the three points.
Deep into stoppage time Robinson grabbed a second goal for Cardiff, but there wasn't enough time for them to capitalise on it as referee Gavin Ward blew the full-time whistle immediately after the restart.
Who knows how vital this win might prove. Come along on Sunday to support United in their quest for another win against bottom-of-the-table Plymouth Argyle. See you there.
UNITED: Cumming, Long, Brown, Vaulks, Moore, Płacheta (Dembélé 73), Brannagan, Harris, Goodrham (Sibley 88), Rodrigues (Phillips 73), Leigh
Unused subs: Ingram, McEachran, El Mizouni, ter Avest, Kioso, Scarlett
Attendance: 11,494 with 1,487 away fans
Fifty/50 draw: ticket 19822 won £1,529.50
Report: Martin Brodetsky; Photography: JasonPix, Steve Daniels, Steve Edmunds
