MARK Sykes scored for the second time in four days as Oxford United fought back from 1-0 down to claim their first win at Stadium:MK.

The midfielder punished Josh McEachran’s calamitous backpass with 11 minutes left to bag his sixth goal of the season, as the U’s completed an excellent – and welcome - victory at a promotion rival.

Covid in the MK Dons camp meant Troy Parrott and Hiram Boateng were promoted to the starting XI and the pair combined after 11 minutes as the latter put the hosts ahead.

Matty Taylor had two goals ruled out for offside in the first half but made it third time lucky midway through the second period, heading home his tenth goal of the season.

United continued to push and Sykes completed the comeback shortly after as the visitors came through a punishing week unscathed, although they did lose Jordan Thorniley to a late red card.

The U’s have taken seven points from three away trips in seven days to stretch their unbeaten run in Sky Bet League One to nine matches and go fifth in the table.

Cameron Brannagan overcame his hamstring issue and was passed fit to play yesterday, but Karl Robinson still made two changes to his starting XI.

Tuesday’s match-winner James Henry came in for Marcus McGuane, while Nathan Holland replaced Gavin Whyte in the front three.

Dan Agyei lost his spot on the substitutes bench to Sam Winnall, while MK were missing two big players through Covid.

League One’s leading assist-maker Scott Twine and five-goal forward Mo Eisa were ruled out due to virus protocols, while centre back Harry Darling was absent through injury.

Even without the influential defender, MK stuck to their philosophy of playing out from the back and lost the ball in a couple of dangerous areas early on.

United could not capitalise, but started brightly nonetheless and Taylor had his first goal ruled out for a clear offside when he dispatched from eight yards out after four minutes.

The hosts started to find their feet, though, and soon took the lead following a well-worked move.

Daniel Harvie fed Parrott, who slid in Boateng down the left-hand channel and the forward beat Eastwood from a tight angle.

The U’s goalkeeper made an excellent one-on-one save from Parrott moments later, before Taylor finished from Sykes’s cross at the far post – only for the offside flag to go up again, although this one looked much more marginal.

The goal put MK in the ascendancy, with Parrott and O’Riley especially dangerous, although the game settled down as the half-hour mark approached.

The latter saw two shots deflected behind for a corner in quick succession, the first coming after a lovely touch took him away from Thorniley. He checked back inside, only to see the ball squirm the wrong side of the near post.

United roused themselves for a spell of pressure late in the half and Brannagan missed a great chance to equalise two minutes before the break.

Dons’ determination to play out from the back almost cost them as Fisher played the ball straight to the midfielder, but after advancing into the penalty area he fired over from 12 yards.

The rain was falling steadily by the time the players emerged after the break, with United now kicking towards their fans.

They started the second half in a similar vein to the first, with Holland and Sykes sending in dangerous crosses that only lacked a finishing touch.

McGuane replaced Henry just after the hour mark as the U’s continued to probe and they quickly got their reward.

After a spell of pressure, Herbie Kane curled a free-kick towards the near post and Taylor arched his head to flick the ball beyond Fisher’s despairing dive.

Dons began to play with more urgency after the equaliser and boss Liam Manning made his first change with 17 minutes left, Charlie Brown replacing goalscorer Boateng.

United kept coming and Sykes spurned a great chance to win it when Brannagan spotted his run into the box with 13 minutes left, but the Irishman’s effort lacked conviction and the chance was gone.

He made up for it seconds later, though, as the U’s completed the turnaround with a goal of the home side’s making.

Oxford-born McEachran put Fisher in all sorts of trouble with a backpass and the goalkeeper lost control of the ball under pressure from Holland.

It fell kindly for Sykes and the midfielder finished calmly to send the travelling support crazy.

Dons looked for an instant response and almost had it, only for Eastwood to thwart them with late heroics for the second successive week.

Tennai Watson burst down the right and crossed for Brown, but the stopper made himself big to block at point-blank range.

O’Riley slid an effort just past the far post with three minutes left, before Whyte – on for Holland – drew a great save from Fisher.

There was more drama late on as Thorniley was sent off for a second yellow card for hauling down Brown, but United held on for a valuable victory.

MK Dons (3-4-3): Fisher, O’Hora, Baldwin, Lewington, Watson, Robson, McEachran, Harvie, O’Riley, Parrott (Martin 81), Boateng (Brown 73).

Unused subs: Ravizzoli, Jules, Ilunga, Tripp.

Booked: McEachran.

Oxford United (4-3-3): Eastwood, Long, Moore, Thorniley, Seddon, Henry (McGuane 63), Kane, Brannagan, Sykes, Taylor (Williams 90+3), Holland (Whyte 84).

Unused subs: Plumley, Forde, Bodin, Winnall.

Booked: Henry, Thorniley, Long.

Sent off: Thorniley.