WANDERERS (3-1-4-2).

JOEL COLEMAN…7.5.

Clean sheet will do his confidence the world of good – one late intervention when a cross flashed across the box was the only meaningful save he had to make.

GETHIN JONES…8.

Back on the right side of the three but stayed very positive in possession and stepped out to support Dacres-Cogley well. Ballsy performance.

RICARDO SANTOS…8.5.

Came off 10 minutes before the end to a standing ovation. Used the ball well and picked out some big passes, using his pace and strength to snuff out what little Oxford offered.

EOIN TOAL…8.

Rock solid as he moved back to the left side of the three. Ventured up to support Ogbeta when he could, but chiefly let nothing past him.

JOSH SHEEHAN…9.

Simply brilliant. There can’t be many midfielders in League One playing as well as him at the moment and Oxford just could not deal with him.

JOSH DACRES-COGLEY…8.5.

Birthday boy came back in on the right side with something to prove, potentially, and he certainly managed it. Took his goal very well.

PARIS MAGHOMA…9.

Serious attitude, in a good way. When the flicks and tricks start coming out you know he is enjoying his football again. What a time to find another level of form.

GEORGE THOMASON…8.

Made one goal, scored another (even if Collins is claiming it). Scrapped and fought for every bit of lost possession in midfield and deserves big credit.

NAT OGBETA…8.

Started the ball rolling with a good finish and offered width on the left the whole night through. Starting to pick the right pass more often, which is great to see.

JON DADI BODVARSSON…8.

Wanderers needed him to step up, and he did. Pumped up the crowd, led the press from the front effectively, and combined well with Collins.

AARON COLLINS…8.5.

Every story needs a leading man – and Collins is looking more and more like he fits the bill for Wanderers. One goal, maybe two, and a handful of classy touches.

Subs: Dempsey 7, 70 (for Thomason) – Kept the tempo up in the latter stages.

Jerome 75 (for Collins), Williams 75 (for Ogbeta), Morley 80 (for Bodvarsson), Iredale 80 (for Santos).

Not used: Forrester, Ashworth.

MAN OF THE MATCH – Josh Sheehan.

By a whisker from Maghoma but the Welsh Wizard really was magic on the night. Seemed to operate on different strata than the Oxford midfielders trying to track him.

MOAN OF THE MATCH – Not sure why Ruben Rodrigues did not get a yellow for a poor challenge on George Thomason on halfway in the first half. League One’s most fouled player against League One’s most booked player… Who coincidentally has received 13 yellow cards for just 37 fouls this season.

MAGIC MOMENT – Lots to pick from but you would have to say the fourth goal was a work of art. Ball won back high up the pitch, moved quickly from right to left, cross and a brilliant finish from Collins.

Oxford United (4-2-3-1): Cumming; Stevens, Moore, Brown, Leigh; McGuane, Branagan; Dale, Rodrigues, Murphy; Harris.

Subs: Long 46 (for Stevens), Goodwin 66 (for Harris), Bodin 66 (for Rodrigues), Henry 73 (for Murphy), Bennett 78 (for Dale).

Not used: Eastwood, Thorniley.

Referee: Sunny Singh Gill 8/10 – Should have booked Rodrigues but small fry in a game with plenty of eyes on it where he got all the big decisions right. No complaints from this end.