JOHN Lundstram was thrilled with Oxford United’s ruthless streak to kill off Morecambe and seize a win which put clear daylight between themselves and Sky Bet League Two’s play-off pack.

The sides were level at 1-1 when Shaun Miller received a straight red card midway through the second half at the Globe Arena.

United have struggled to put teams to bed at times this season, but here their response was emphatic with three goals in nine minutes to wrap up a 4-2 win.

Lundstram began the goal blitz himself and coming just four days after throwing away a late lead to draw with Mansfield Town, the midfielder was delighted with the clinical edge United showed.

“It was looking a bit like Tuesday night at half-time,” he said.

“We weren’t ruthless enough (against Mansfield), it was one of the words that got said in the dressing room afterwards.

“We really went into this game wanting to show it and as the game went on we were definitely more ruthless.

“The opposition have gone down to ten men in games before and we haven’t quite capitalised on it, but thankfully we punished them.

“We could have had a couple more, really.”

The former Everton trainee made it 2-1 with his third goal of the season thanks to a pass from Jake Wright, when the centre back – who has not scored for nearly a decade – showed admirable calmness in a crowded penalty area.

Lundstram said: “Skip had good composure for a centre half to chill out and lay it to me.

“I’m made up to get the goal.

“I just smashed it really and hoped for the best. Thankfully it hit the back of the net.”

Victory was important, given the results elsewhere.

United’s victory meant the top three all won, while the sides who began the day in fourth, fifth and seventh places lost.

It means Michael Appleton’s side, who have at least one game in hand on the teams immediately below them, have a six-point gap on their nearest challenger.

Lundstram said: “The results were flying around the dressing room, so it’s definitely turned out to be a massive win for us.

“We’re just starting to pull away a little bit now and if we get a point or three on the board on Tuesday (against leaders Northampton Town), it would be massive for us.”

Appleton praised the impact of his substitutes, while Morecambe manager Jim Bentley was left to reflect on Miller’s rash decision.

“We just looked like we were building momentum and we were getting on top, but once we went down to ten men it was always going to be difficult against a very, very good side,” he said.