Crawley 1-5 Oxford: United strengthen automatic promotion hopes

Oxford stormed back from going a goal behind to strengthen their bid for automatic promotion with a thumping 5-1 victory at Crawley.

Chris Maguire scored twice for the U's, who have not lost away from home in Sky Bet League Two since December 19.

Oxford, beaten 3-2 by Barnsley in the final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy last weekend, began sluggishly and goalkeeper Benji Buchel made early saves from Matt Harrold and Lanre Oyebanjo.

The visitors might have taken the lead when Liam Sercombe played in Danny Hylton but debutant keeper Jack Rose blocked the striker's goal-bound shot with his legs.

Crawley broke the deadlock in the 29th minute when Oxford failed to clear a corner by Lyle Della-Verde and defender Joe McNerney stabbed the ball home from six yards to open his account for the hosts.

Former Scotland international Maguire levelled with his first league goal for the U's six minutes before the break, firing home from 10 yards after a pinpoint cross by Alex MacDonald.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 international Callum O'Dowda gave his side the lead two minutes after the break, shooting into the far corner after Hylton had put him through.

Sercombe, set up by Hylton, made it 3-1 after 54 minutes with a close-range effort which looped in off Rose. Rose later denied Hylton in a one-on-one situation and MacDonald also went close when his low shot came back off a post.

Maguire hit his second and Oxford's fourth after 72 minutes from the penalty spot after he was brought down by Simon Walton.

And substitute George Waring completed the rout three minutes from time at the near post from a cross by James Roberts.