Oxford Utd 4, QPR 1

DEAN Windass led the charge as Oxford United bounced back magnificently from their Sunderland shocker to run up their biggest win of the season.

The ex-Aberdeen striker was irrepressible and his infectious enthusiasm rubbed off on those around him as Oxford played some eye-catching football to destroy a QPR side level on points with them at the start of play.

Joey Beauchamp hit his first goal of the season, Andy Thomson shook off a rocky first 20 minutes to produce a good last 70 for his best performance for the club and the defence was back on form, despite losing Phil Whelan with a groin injury early in the second half.

All in all, it was just what the doctor ordered. An instant remedy after their bout of the Wearside wobbles.

Indeed, if United's fans thought their club was in trouble they may want to amend that view after seeing QPR.

Ray Harford's team had about as much charisma as the manager himself, were clearly devoid of confidence and, it became apparent in the second half, didn't have the heart for the battle. Seeing the sorry state of a once-proud club, United's fans taunted their visiting counterparts when it became 4-0 with numbers ranging from "We want seven" to "You're going down with the Swindon" and, following the managerial vacancy at the County Ground, "Harford for Swindon".

The home crowd had been livened up by an appearance from their hero Kevin Francis before kick-off. On a suggestion from Mark Harrison, the big man strode over, and into, the London Road end to start up and join in the singing.

United were immediately into their stride once the match began and Windass showed superb body shape to power in a mid-air 25-yard volley which flew just over.

Beauchamp started and finished the opening goal on 15 minutes, playing the ball left to Marsh and then drilling home his shot when Marsh's pile-driver was only parried by keeper Lee Harper. David Smith and Windass (twice) went close as United deserved to be ahead by more at the break.

It wasn't until the 50th minute that Kevin Gallen produced QPR's first shot on goal, a 20-yarder which Phil Whitehead easily gathered.

The keeper then showed smart reactions to save one-handed to his left from Steve Slade.

Whelan, who had been struggling after a first-half collision with his own keeper, hobbled off ten minutes after the break. United switched Smith to right back, Les Robinson to the centre of defence and threw on Matt Murphy in midfield.

Windass struck a ferocious free-kick from 25 yards which was arrowing towards the top left corner until Harper somehow turned it for a corner. But a three-goal salvo in 11 minutes settled the contest.

Keeper Harper's face must have been crimson after his poor clearance struck Thomson and ran for Murphy to roll the ball into an unguarded goal from nearly 35 yards.

Desperately racing back, Harper almost made it, but the ball skidded under his body into the net as he tried to adjust his speed.

United's third on 72 minutes was a slick five-man move which finished with Paul Powell supplying Marsh on the left and Thomson side-footing home Marsh's cross at the near post.

Working feverishly, holding the ball up well and a constant menace, Windass had already shown himself to be a class apart from the others, and he capped his man-of-the-match performance with a stunning 75th-minute goal.

Thomson and Beauchamp worked the ball to him on the right and he cut in and curled a glorious left-footed shot from 15 yards inside the far post.

Rangers substitute Tony Scully volleyed in a last-minute consolation goal, when a corner was headed out, to ruin U's hopes of a clean sheet.

Never mind, they were back with a bang. TAKING AIMING: Dean Windass lines up the shot that brought United's fourth goal FLYING HIGH: Joey Beauchamp leaps to avoid a sliding QPR challenge and (right) slices an attempted shot while in mid-air during United's 4-1 victory Pictures: George Reszeter HOW ABOUT THAT: Dean Windass strips off and awaits the attention of his teammates after scoring

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