Oxford Utd 3, Stockport County 0

THREE players who weren't even at the Manor Ground a month ago wrote their names on the scoresheet as United bounced back in style after being bewitched by Ipswich.

Loan rangers Steve Davis and O'Neill Donaldson, and then big Kevin Francis, with his third goal in four games and against his old club, all found the net.

It was Oxford's best win since Malcolm Shotton became manager.

And, coming just a day after coach Malcolm Crosby left to join Denis Smith at West Brom, was confirmation that United's players not only feel refreshed by the new set-up - they love it.

Evidence of this came as Shotton himself took the warm-up just before kick-off.

The London Road faithful gave a great cheer when Francis went the wrong way during a training run and was forced to do a one-handed press-up.

All the Oxford players had smiles on their faces, exchanging banter with the fans, and seemed to be relishing the prospect of going out to play . . . hardly signs of a team lacking confidence after a big defeat or fearing relegation.

For the first time at home under Shotton, United lost the toss, so they attacked downhill in the first half. But they were in front after five minutes.

Mike Ford back-headed David Smith's corner and Davis nodded in at the far post, just managing to guide the ball into the top corner even though goalkeeper Eric Nixon got a hand to it.

Nixon seemed so unsettled by Francis's presence at another Smith corner moments later that he allowed the ball to float across his six-yard box untouched.

The U's never really got their game together but Stuart Massey, back after injury, added bite into midfield, and they defended well with Phil Gilchrist and Davis more aggressive than they had been at Portman Road. Much of the first half was tedi-ous but that was largely County's fault. They were a goal down but, instead of chasing the game, offered nothing.

Joey Beauchamp almost connec-ted with a Francis back-header from Gilchrist's long throw and then fired in a 20-yard volley which Nixon saved.

Martin Gray brought a gasp from the fans with a well-struck long-range effort.

It took Stockport 54 minutes to muster a shot, and that was a pathetic effort from Tony Dinning.

The start of the second half was littered with off-sides, but midway through it, United's strikers combined to put them two goals in front.

Massey did well to whip over a cross from the bye-line, Francis headed back across goal and Donaldson, less than a yard out, nodded in.

Several Stockport players pro-tested that the ball had gone out of play before Massey crossed it and Martin McIntosh and Kevin Cooper were booked for dissent.

Substitute Chris Byrne helped the visitors mount a late challenge. Paul Cook had a free-kick 'goal' ruled out because the kick was indirect, and Byrne went close with a volley.

United supporters had been chanting "Super Kev" every time the lanky striker did anything effective and they were in full voice after he completed the rout ten minutes from time.

Bundling his way through the inside left channel, Francis hammered in a shot which Nixon was able to take some pace off but couldn't stop from trickling over the line.

In the last five minutes, Phil Whitehead produced two stunning saves to keep a clean sheet. First, he turned Colin Woodthorpe's header on to the post and he repeated his mid-air heroics by parrying anot-her blast from Andy Mutch.

It was hard to know what to make of it all. United hadn't played well but had out-competed their opponents and won 3-0 against a side who, at the start of play, were sixth in the table.

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