NATHAN Holland scored twice on his return to set Oxford United on the way to a morale-boosting victory over Accrington Stanley.

The winger was left out of the squad for Saturday’s draw with Gillingham, but two excellent strikes in the first 24 minutes gave the U’s control in a contest played in pouring rain.

United were much more clinical than in recent weeks and Matty Taylor’s deft finish put them 3-0 up shortly after the restart, the No 9 scoring for the second match in succession.

Moments earlier, Ethan Hamilton’s header appeared to cross the line without being given, but the Accrington midfielder did find the net on the hour mark.

Mark Sykes restored the three-goal lead 11 minutes later, before a late Michael Nottingham own goal saw United end a previously-winless September in fine fashion.

They also preserved their unbeaten home record, leapfrogging Accrington to go eighth in Sky Bet League One in the process.

United’s line-up showed four changes to the side that began Saturday’s game, two of them enforced.

Jordan Thorniley was laid low with a tooth problem so missed out on the starting XI for the first time in the league this season, while Gavin Whyte failed a fitness test after taking a kick to the calf at the weekend.

They were replaced by Luke McNally and Holland, while Sam Long was rested for Anthony Forde.

The final change saw Sykes return to the XI for Alex Gorrin, with Herbie Kane at the base of the midfield three and James Henry to the right of him.

The warm-ups took place in torrential rain, but the downpour eased as the players came out and Accrington settled quicker.

John Coleman’s side could have gone ahead after ten minutes, but Matt Butcher curled just wide from 20 yards after latching onto Jack Stevens’s loose pass.

United began to find their rhythm and a well-worked move down the right ended with Sykes crossing for Taylor, whose flick was blocked at the near post.

It was not long before Holland put them ahead with his first Kassam Stadium goal since February 2020.

The winger turned Yaboah Amankwah midway inside the Stanley half, earning a bit of luck when the ball bobbled back to him inside the penalty area and slotting past James Trafford.

Holland’s second followed six minutes later after he gained possession in a similar position, before playing the ball forward to Taylor.

United’s No 9 fed Steve Seddon who sent in an excellent low cross that Holland, who had continued his run, converted into the far corner.

Sean McConville, making his 350th Accrington appearance, curled a free-kick straight at Stevens moments later as the visitors sought an instant response.

But United continued to look threatening and got in behind the opposition defence several times, with Henry seeing a shot parried by Trafford and Taylor dragging wide.

They made it 3-0 five minutes into the second half, but only after controversy at the other end.

Hamilton headed goalwards from a corner, with the ball striking the post and seemingly going over the line before Henry hacked away, but neither referee Robert Lewis nor his linesman moved a muscle.

Accrington had every right to feel aggrieved, especially when Taylor scored United’s third two minutes later.

Holland was involved again, playing his teammate in behind the defence and the striker expertly dinked the ball over Trafford.

The West Ham United loanee was inches from converting his teammate’s cross minutes later, before Hamilton found the net on the hour mark – and this time it did count.

It was sloppy from the U’s, as they lost possession from a goal kick and allowed the midfielder to advance into the box and beat Stevens down to his right.

United were losing concentration and needed to be careful, with Karl Robinson responding by bringing off Holland for Ryan Williams four minutes later.

They decided attack was the best form of defence, as Sykes scored his second goal this month – and first at home since August 2019.

Henry stole the ball inside the visitors’ half and raced towards the penalty area, before switching the play for the Irishman to score on the slide.

Accrington made a double substitution, while Billy Bodin replaced Henry and went straight into the No 10 role as United moved to a 4-2-3-1.

The bookings flowed as the rain started to pour heavily again late on, with Coleman furious with something said from the stands and Robinson going over as a peace-maker.

The game meandered towards full-time, but there was still time for Cameron Brannagan’s shot to deflect in off Nottingham with the last kick of the match.

Oxford United (4-3-3): Stevens, Forde, Moore, McNally, Seddon, Henry (Bodin 74), Kane (Gorrin 85), Brannagan, Sykes, Taylor, Holland (Williams 64).

Unused subs: Eastwood, Long, Mousinho, Agyei.

Booked: Seddon, Kane, Moore, Williams.

Accrington Stanley (4-5-1): Trafford, Amankwah (Pell 78), Sykes, Nottingham, Sherring, O’Sullivan, Hamilton, Conneely (Nolan 72), Butcher, McConville, Bishop.

Unused subs: Savin, Leigh, Clark, Mansell, Malcolm.

Booked: Sykes, McConville.

Referee: Robert Lewis (Shropshire).

Attendance: 5654 (81 visitors).