OXFORD United wrapped up victory over Burton Albion inside 45 minutes as they scored four goals in a scintillating first half at the Kassam Stadium.

Sam Baldock’s early header put the U’s in control and he struck again just before the break, his second falling between quickfire efforts from Gavin Whyte and Matty Taylor.

It means there have now been 26 goals in the last five matches at Grenoble Road as United returned to winning ways after Tuesday’s defeat at Portsmouth.

Baldock and Whyte were on the bench at Fratton Park and certainly made the most of their returns to the starting XI, with the latter firing in a spectacular first goal of the season ten minutes before the break.

Baldock’s cool finish made it 3-0, before Taylor took his 2021/22 tally to 20 with a sumptuous volley on the stroke of half-time – the striker scoring against Burton for the fifth game in a row.

Adlene Guedioura powered home in stoppage-time and the second period was much more low-key, as United saw out a victory that kept them fourth in Sky Bet League One.

Karl Robinson revealed before kick-off that Marcus Browne faces up to six weeks out with a hamstring injury and the forward was one of three players to drop out of the U’s side.

Steve Seddon and Nathan Holland were the others to miss out, with the duo named on the bench.

Mark Sykes returned at left wing back after missing Tuesday’s game with a chest injury, while Whyte and Baldock also came in.

The wind was swirling around the Kassam Stadium all afternoon and it may have contributed to United’s seventh-minute opener.

Burton could only half-clear after Sam Long’s shot from a Cameron Brannagan corner was blocked and the ball came out to Herbie Kane.

His floated cross to the far post caused chaos and Baldock nodded across goal. Time stood still as the ball drifted along the line, before it eventually nestled in the corner via the post.

It saw the striker score for the second home game running, giving United an early lead for the second time in four days.

The U’s kept the initiative and fashioned two chances in a matter of minutes, Baldock firing into the Jim Smith Stand before setting up Ryan Williams to force a save from Ben Garratt.

The striker was in the mood and saw an effort ruled out for offside in the 26th minute, having slid in to find the net after Burton failed to clear a corner.

United were on top and made their dominance pay with three goals in the final ten minutes of the first half – and they were all top drawer.

They broke forward at pace and Brannagan was forced wide, but kept the attack alive. He drove into the penalty area and laid a pass to Whyte, whose shot swerved across Garratt and into the top corner.

The Northern Ireland international was involved again five minutes later as he found McNally, who had acres of space to run into as he crossed the halfway line.

The centre back fed Sykes to his right, who sent a first-time cross towards the penalty spot for Baldock to sweep home.

That goal had the Kassam Stadium purring, but the fourth was the best of the lot. United again countered at pace as Brannagan found Whyte to clip a cross to the far post, where Taylor crashed a volley past Garratt.

It was not just the striker’s 20th goal of the season – his best in a yellow shirt – but also his 50th in the Football League for the club, while he moved to tenth outright in their all-time scoring charts with 56.

Burton responded immediately as Guedioura fired past Stevens from the edge of the box when United failed to clear a corner, but Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink still felt the need to make a double change at the break.

Jacob Maddox and William Kokolo replaced Terry Taylor and Deji Oshilaja, before Baldock pulled up six minutes after the restart and came off for Sam Winnall.

As expected, the second half started at a far slower pace than the first but United began to take control again around the hour mark.

Burton made their final change 18 minutes after the restart as Christian Saydee was replaced by fellow striker Oumar Niasse, who once cost Everton £13.5million.

The flow of goals had steadied, but United really should have made it five midway through the second half.

The Burton back line misjudged Stevens’ punt upfield and Taylor latched on to the ball, crossing for Winnall six yards out. The striker had only Garratt to beat but miscued horribly, although he did force the goalkeeper into a good save to his left from the next move.

Burton were guilty of missing a similarly good chance moments later, as Jonny Smith headed straight at Stevens when Tom Hamer’s cross found him unmarked eight yards out.

Holland and Marcus McGuane replaced Taylor and Kane in the final 15 minutes as the game meandered towards a conclusion, with the contest long over.

Sykes forced a good save from Garratt at his near post late on, while a couple of miscued efforts from the visitors summed up their afternoon.

Oxford United (3-4-1-2): Stevens, McNally, Long, Brown, Sykes, Kane (McGuane 85), Brannagan, Williams, Whyte, Taylor (Holland 78), Baldock (Winnall 51).

Unused subs: Eastwood, Mousinho, Forde, Seddon.

Booked: None.

Burton Albion (3-4-2-1): Garratt, Hughes, Brayford, Oshilaja (Maddox 46), Hamer, Guedioura, Taylor (Kokolo 46), Borthwick-Jackson, Smith, Powell, Saydee (Niasse 63).

Unused subs: Kovar, Shaughnessy, Mancienne, Lakin.

Booked: Saydee.

Referee: Sam Purkiss (London).

Attendance: 7,631 (217 visitors).