OXFORD United’s 10-game unbeaten run came to a disappointing end as Ipswich Town won 3-0 in front of a bumper home crowd on Boxing Day.

Freddie Ladapo, Wes Burns and Conor Chaplin scored for the Sky Bet League One high-flyers as the U’s tasted defeat for the first time since October 22.

Karl Robinson made two changes to the side which drew 0-0 at Sheffield Wednesday, one of them providing Ed McGinty with his league debut.

The 23-year-old came in for Simon Eastwood, who missed out with a calf issue.

The second change saw Elliott Moore return to the side, with Lewis Bate absent due to illness.

That alteration resulted in some tactical tweaks as Moore partnered Stuart Findlay at centre back, with Sam Long moving out to right back.

Djavan Anderson was pushed further up the right flank into a more attacking role.

The U’s found themselves 2-0 down at the break after conceding two goals in the space of six minutes at the end of the first half.

Robinson’s side actually started the opening 45 minutes brightly as Anderson fired a shot from 25 yards just wide of the post, with seven minutes on the clock.

Billy Bodin then hit a low effort from distance, but Christian Walton was able to get down and palm away the ball to safety.

With quarter of an hour played, United were dealt an early injury blow as Marcus Browne went down off the ball, and was unable to continue. James Henry came on in place of Browne.

The U’s continued to have the better chances though and got close to goal again through a counter-attack.

Bodin led a charge against the home defence and released Henry, who in turn fed Matty Taylor.

United’s No 9 was unable to find the angle though and ended up firing a shot into the sidenetting.

McGinty was first called into action from a corner when he got a strong pair of gloves behind a Freddie Ladapo header just before the half hour mark.

At the other end, Taylor was thwarted by Walton after a clever through ball from Bodin.

McGinty made another solid save to deny a Leif Davis header at the goalkeeper’s back post, but handed the home side the opener minutes later.

Conor Chaplin’s shot was only palmed in front of him by McGinty, with Ladapo quickest to react and struck home from a matter of yards.

The noise at Portman Road went up a notch and Wes Burns fired a shot high and wide moments after the restart.

It was Burns though that doubled the Ipswich lead, expertly volleying in after coming short from a corner on the cusp of half-time.

Ipswich had an opportunity for a third in stoppage time but McGinty denied Marcus Harness and then was up quick to stop Burns with the follow-up.

The home side began the second half as they ended the opening period, with an early chance falling the way of Harness.

Sam Morsy was patient in the build-up and fed Burns, whose cross picked out Harness free in the area, but he sent his volleyed effort high over the bar.

Just before the hour mark, Burns stooped low but flicked his header wide of McGinty’s goal.

Both sides made changes but were unable to get into dangerous positions as the second half wore on.

That changed with 10 minutes to go when Sone Aluko – on as a substitute – was allowed time to drift in from the right and pick out Chaplin.

Town’s No 10 was then given too much space to pick his spot beyond McGinty from 20 yards out, as the Tractor Boys sealed a 3-0 win.

Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1): Walton; Donacien, Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis; Evans (Humphreys 83), Morsy; Burns (Vincent-Young 83), Chaplin (Edwards 83), Harness (Aluko 66); Ladapo (Jackson 71).

Unused subs: Hladky, Edmundson.

Booked: Vincent-Young.

Oxford United (4-2-3-1): McGinty; Long, Moore, Findlay, Brown; Brannagan, McGuane (Goodrham 89); Anderson (Murphy 46), Browne (Henry 15 ((Wildschut 60)), Bodin; Taylor (O’Donkor 60).

Unused subs: Mousinho, Seddon.

Booked: Taylor, Henry.

Referee: Will Finnie (Bedfordshire)

Attendance: 28,072 (550 away)