SKY Bet League One leaders Hull City proved too strong for Oxford United at the KCOM Stadium.

Keane Lewis-Potter scored either side of half-time to give the hosts a fifth straight win, while the U’s remain ninth but are now four points shy of the play-offs.

The Hull youngster showed some moments of real class and drilled beyond Jack Stevens after United started the game brightly.

The U’s were much less effective after the break and Lewis-Potter sealed the points 19 minutes from time, via a heavy deflection off Rob Atkinson.

Karl Robinson’s line-up showed four changes to the one that triumphed at Swindon Town on Tuesday.

Cameron Brannagan and Mide Shodipo shook off late knocks at the County Ground to start, with the latter preferred to derby goalscorer Brandon Barker.

Jamie Hanson came in for Alex Gorrin, who dropped to the bench with a sore groin, while Matty Taylor and Liam Kelly were replaced by Dan Agyei and the returning Elliot Lee.

Agyei scored within 30 seconds of being on the pitch at Swindon and almost repeated the trick, collecting Brannagan’s lofted through ball and forcing Matt Ingram to parry down to his left.

It took Hull just four minutes to get in behind the visitors’ defence, though, as former United winger Gavin Whyte drove into the penalty area and was brought down by Stevens.

The U’s thought they might have conceded a penalty for the third straight game when referee Anthony Backhouse conferred with his linesman, but the assistant belatedly flagged for offside instead.

United were otherwise on top for the first ten minutes, with Agyei particularly bright, but Hull grew into the game.

Lewis-Potter stood out for the hosts and it was no surprise that he opened the scoring midway through the half.

Captain Lewie Coyle found the left-winger with a raking crossfield ball and he took on Anthony Forde, before cutting inside and shooting into the far corner.

United should have equalised immediately when Mark Sykes fed off Lee’s clever flick and drew a save from Ingram down to his right, with Brannagan slicing the rebound wide from the edge of the box.

The home goalkeeper needed to be alert again just after the half-hour mark, pushing Ruffels’ header away at his near post following Forde’s deep cross.

Hull remained a threat as Whyte, Lewis-Potter and Mallik Wilks rotated around No 10 George Honeyman, while Sykes and Lee switched between centre midfield and right wing towards the end of the half.

The United pair continued in the same positions after the break, but the Irishman only lasted ten more minutes before he was replaced by Barker.

The U’s were unable to do too much attacking in the early stages of the half and Stevens did well to adjust his body to save Whyte’s deflected effort from the edge of the box.

The Northern Irishman drove forward again just after the hour and played in Wilks, but the forward could not keep the ball in after rounding Stevens.

United had just begun to get into the second half when the hosts grabbed their second.

Lewis-Potter was again allowed to race into space as Hull moved the ball from back to front quickly and the 20-year-old reached the edge of the box.

He aimed an effort towards Stevens’ far corner and the goalkeeper dived, but the lunging Atkinson deflected the ball past the U’s stopper.

Matty Taylor replaced Lee as Karl Robinson went all-out attack, but both sides’ momentum was halted after Brannagan went in firmly on Coyle.

The United midfielder left his opponent face down in the turf and there was concern as the physios rushed on, with a five-minute stoppage ensuing before the Hull captain was up on his feet and led off the pitch.

It meant nine minutes of stoppage-time were added on, but the U’s could not force Ingram into another meaningful save.

Hull City (4-2-3-1): Ingram, Coyle (Emmanuel 83), Burke, Greaves, Elder, Jones, Docherty, Whyte (Crowley 77), Honeyman, Lewis-Potter (Magennis 72), Wilks.

Unused subs: Long, Eaves, Scott, Slater.

Booked: Docherty.

Oxford United (4-3-3): Stevens, Forde, Moore, Atkinson, Ruffels, Lee (Taylor 72), Hanson, Brannagan, Sykes (Barker 55), Agyei, Shodipo.

Unused subs: Eastwood, Grayson, Gorrin, Kelly, Hall.

Booked: None.

Referee: Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).