OXFORD United rounded off pre-season with a handsome victory over Sky Bet Championship side Queens Park Rangers.
Cameron Brannagan gave the U’s a slender lead in a cagey first half, however it rained goals in the second period as Liam Manning’s side ran riot.
Mark Harris, Marcus Browne, Stanley Mills and Jordan Thorniley all scored within a 24-minute period as United blew away the visitors.
Manning named an unchanged line-up from the 1-0 win against Swansea City last week, with Everton winger Mills named on the bench.
Simon Eastwood, Marcus McGuane and James Henry were also among the substitutes after their respective knocks during pre-season.
Before kick-off, there was a minute’s applause in memory of Trevor Francis, who died earlier this week, aged 69.
In addition to being Britain’s first £1 million player, the footballing legend was a former R’s player-manager.
The first half itself was short on action in the final third, with Hoops defender Jimmy Dunne stretchered off midway through the opening period after a slip while chasing back.
Trent Rendall came on in place of the 25-year-old centre back.
United showed some bright interplay without getting in behind the opposition defence, however it paid off soon after Ilias Chair hit a 20-yard free kick straight into the U’s wall.
Manning’s side worked the ball on the left-hand side, with Harris teeing up Brannagan to arrow a low, right-footed shot across the goal and into the opposite corner.
The match opened up from there, with Tyler Goodrham pulled back by Osman Kakay as the young winger looked to launch a counter-attack down the left.
Harris was afforded space just outside the penalty area and struck an effort wide of Asmir Begovic’s left post, with the former Stoke City and Chelsea goalkeeper scrambling across his goal in what was the final bit of action in the first 45 minutes.
Fin Stevens replaced Sam Long at right back at the beginning of the second half, with the visitors having the first sniff of goal in the second period.
After winning the ball high up the pitch, Chris Willock bent a right-footed shot from 25 yards around James Beadle’s left-hand post.
Browne then preyed on a loose ball and charged down the left, before cutting the ball back to Brannagan in a good shooting position 20 yards out.
However, the midfielder’s touch let him down and the visitors were able to reclaim possession on the edge of their own box.
It didn’t matter as the U’s doubled their advantage shortly afterwards.
Ruben Rodrigues and Harris have shown signs of intelligent interplay during pre-season, with the former releasing Harris in behind the Hoops defence just before the hour mark.
Former Cardiff City forward Harris took control of the expertly weighted pass and finished high into the roof of Begovic’s net from the right channel of the box.
Browne made it 3-0 eight minutes later after being picked out by a delightful lofted ball over the Hoops defence by Rodrigues.
United’s No 11 looked to clip the ball over the onrushing Begovic, who managed to get fingertips to the ball, only for it continue towards the empty net, where Browne was able to nod home from a couple of yards.
It would prove to be Browne’s last bit of action as he and Josh McEachran went off to a standing ovation, with Mills and McGuane on in their place.
At this point, it was all United as Rodrigues saw a shot charged down from 10 yards.
The U’s added their fourth though moments later when debutant Mills beat the offside trap down the left and remained calm to finish when one-on-one with Begovic.
Billy Bodin and Gatlin O’Donkor replaced the brilliant Rodrigues and Harris, with the fifth goal arriving with eight minutes to go as Thorniley rose highest to nod home a corner from the left.
United kept looking for more though, and O’Donkor hit the outside of the post with a stinging effort after storming his way into the box.
Oxford United (4-2-3-1): Beadle; Long (Stevens 46), Moore, Thorniley, Brown; McEachran (McGuane 66), Brannagan; Goodrham, Rodrigues (Bodin 77), Browne (Mills 66); Harris (O’Donkor 77).
Unused subs: Eastwood, Negru, Stevens, Henry.
Booked: McEachran.
Queens Park Rangers (4-2-3-1): Begovic; Kakay, Dunne (Rendall 23), Gubbins, Paal; Field, Dozzell (Adomah 77); Chair, Richards, Willock (Gape 77); Dykes.
Unused subs: Walsh, Kelman.
Booked: Chair.
Referee: John Busby
Attendance: 4,587 (1,777 visitors)
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