OXFORD United ended a run of three games without a win and avoided a Halloween scare at Lincoln City with a 2-0 victory on the road.

Ciaron Brown handed the U’s a half-time lead with a thumping header, before Lukas Jensen spilled a Stan Mills cross into his own net in the second period.

Liam Manning made two changes to the side which drew at home to Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday, with Cameron Brannagan and Tyler Goodrham coming in for Josh McEachran and Billy Bodin, who dropped to the bench.

United’s head coach had an early decision to make, after Sam Long stayed down after giving away a free kick.

He received treatment, but could play no further part in the game, with Mills coming on in his place after hobbling round the pitch on crutches.

The change saw the U’s switch formation, with Fin Stevens and Greg Leigh dropping into a back four, and Mills, Ruben Rodrigues and Goodrham playing behind Mark Harris.

Brown then headed United into the lead with what was the first sight of goal.

With 13 minutes on the clock, Brannagan clipped in an inswinging corner which Brown thundered in at the near post.

The Northern Ireland international was almost caught out a couple of minutes later when his sloppy pass from a U’s corner allowed Danny Mandroiu to lead a one-man counter-attack.

The forward led the charge, but ran out of steam and his low effort from 20 yards proved a comfortable hold for James Beadle.

Just after the midway point in the first half, Rodrigues slid through Mills, whose effort took a nick and hit the sidenetting.

Rodrigues then saw a shot of his own slam into the sidenetting after being slipped through by Goodrham.

Jensen produced an excellent save to paw away a Goodrham strike from just outside the penalty area, as United continued to press for a second goal.

In stoppage time at the end of the first half, Mills worked his way to the byline and pulled the back towards the near post, with Jensen forced to palm the ball behind for a corner.

Six minutes into the second period, Imps skipper Paudie O’Connor timed his tackle to perfection after Rodrigues found Mills in space in the right channel of the penalty box.

In true Halloween fashion, the fog thickened and circled around Sincil Bank during the second half, and it perhaps played a part in United’s second goal.

Mills burst down the right-hand side and crossed the ball, with former Burnley goalkeeper Jensen spilling it over his goal line.

The game all of a sudden opened up, with Beadle producing a flying save at the other end, to deny Lasse Sorensen’s stinging effort.

Beadle then missed the ball from a corner, however Mills spared his blushes when he hooked the ball over his own crossbar and stopped Adam Jackson from tapping in.

Bodin replaced Rodrigues and was soon involved when he curled an effort towards goal, however Jensen was able to take hold of the ball with relative ease.

Jensen then faced a stiffer test when Marcus McGuane showed good feet before sending a shot at goal from just inside the box, forcing the goalkeeper to tip the ball over for a corner.

Lincoln City (3-4-3): Jensen; Mitchell, Jackson, O’Connor; Burroughs (Duffy 79), Hamilton, Erhahon, Roughan (Smith 60); Sorensen, Vale (Adelakun 60), Mandroiu (Makama 60)

Unused subs: Wright, Brown, Eyoma.

Booked: None.

Oxford United (3-4-2-1): Beadle; Long (Mills 8), Moore, Brown; Stevens, McGuane (McEachran 85), Brannagan, Leigh; Rodrigues (Bodin 73), Goodrham (O’Donkor 85); Harris.

Unused subs: Eastwood, Thorniley, Murphy.

Booked: Rodrigues, O’Donkor.

Referee: Scott Tallis (West Midlands)

Attendance: 7,114 (446 away).