OXFORD United gave Karl Robinson three points on his return to the touchline as they extended their winning run against Morecambe.

The U’s head coach had missed the last three games while isolating with coronavirus, but his side continued their good form to stay in the Sky Bet League One play-offs.

Steve Seddon starred, heading home United’s opener after 29 minutes – their first goal from a set-piece this season.

Morecambe looked dangerous all afternoon and top-scorer Cole Stockton equalised with a fantastic volley after the break, after James Henry had missed a penalty on his 200th appearance for the club.

But Mark Sykes bravely converted 17 minutes from time, before Matty Taylor sealed victory late on.

Cameron Brannagan was a surprise absentee after falling ill last night, so Alex Gorrin came in for his 100th U’s appearance.

To the Spanish midfielder’s left was Henry, while Marcus McGuane was part of a league squad for the first time since August 28.

Backed by their biggest number of home fans this season, United controlled possession in the opening minutes as they looked for their third early goal in a week.

Nathan Holland almost provided it, running onto Seddon’s perfectly-weighted through ball and seeing his shot blocked for a corner.

The left back produced several probing passes during the first period and found Henry after 13 minutes, with another effort going behind off a Morecambe man.

Callum Jones had spurned a good chance for the visitors moments earlier, firing a half-volley over the crossbar from 12 yards, as they enjoyed a good spell towards the midway point of the half.

United needed to up the tempo and their start was summed up when a lovely dummy from Holland gave Gorrin a clear sight of goal inside the box, but he took too long and the shot was blocked.

The U’s quickly won a corner and finally broke their duck from set-pieces.

A stretching Taylor acrobatically hooked the ball across goal from Elliott Moore’s header and Seddon was there to score his second of the season.

Holland fired straight at Jokull Andresson after cutting inside Ryan Cooney eight minutes before the break, but Morecambe ended the half strongly.

Wes McDonald had a fierce shot beaten away by Simon Eastwood, who then caught Stockton’s header.

Holland beat Cooney on his inside yet again on the stroke of half-time, but curled just past the far post.

Both teams were guilty of missing great chances within seven minutes of the restart, with Ryan Delaney the first player to hold his head in his hands.

Eastwood could only palm Greg Leigh’s cross straight to the midfielder six yards out, but he somehow shot wide of an open goal.

Henry should have made the Morecambe No 15 pay three minutes later, when Jokull Andresson was deemed to have brought down Taylor as they fought for a loose ball.

The midfielder has already scored three penalties this season, but got this one horribly wrong and ballooned the spot-kick into the East Stand.

Moore threw himself in front of a Stockton shot moments later, but United could do nothing about the striker’s next attempt.

Morecambe’s top scorer drifted into space to meet Cooney’s cross at the near post and fired a first-time volley into the roof of the net.

McGuane replaced Gorrin and Gavin Whyte came on for Holland, with Sykes moving over to the left – and he was in the right place to restore United’s lead with 17 minutes left.

Seddon and Taylor were involved again, with the striker heading the ball down into the six-yard box from his teammate’s floated cross.

Andresson looked set to reach it first, but Sykes showed great courage to throw himself at the ball and force it into the net.

Morecambe boss Stephen Robinson made all three changes in a bid to force an equaliser, only for Taylor to make the game safe.

Seddon was involved again, playing his teammate in with a sumptuous backheel and the No 9 deftly chipped Andresson from a tight angle for his sixth goal of the season.

Oxford United (4-3-3): Eastwood, Long, Moore, Thorniley, Seddon, Henry, Gorrin (McGuane 69), Kane, Sykes, Taylor (Agyei 90), Holland (Whyte 69).

Unused subs: Plumley, Forde, Williams, Bodin.

Booked: None.

Morecambe (4-3-3): Andresson, Cooney, O’Connor, Delaney, Leigh, Phillips (McCalmont 73), Diagouraga, Jones (Price 83), Ayunga (Harrison 90), Stockton, McDonald.

Unused subs: Letheren, McLaughlin, Wootton, Gibson.

Booked: Andresson Referee: Lee Swabey (Devon).

Attendance: 8,766 (228 visitors).