OXFORD United ended their winless run in Sky Bet League One in the best possible way as Coventry City were pulverised at the Kassam Stadium.

If anything the scoreline flattered a visiting side ripped to shreds by a U’s side who looked transformed from the one which had collected a single point from their last four league games.

Kane Hemmings got them away to the perfect start with the opening goal on seven minutes and the striker’s shot was deflected in by Jamie Sterry to make it 2-0.

Chris Maguire won and converted a penalty to stretch the lead even further before the half-time whistle.

Alex MacDonald’s fierce shot made it 4-0 on the hour, but United’s joy was then tempered by the sight of Wes Thomas and Joe Skarz being carried off on a stretcher in the space of 15 minutes.

Coventry belatedly pulled a goal back with a Marcus Tudgay penalty deep into stoppage time, but United had long since made the points safe.

U’s head coach Michael Appleton spoke of “drawing a line in the sand” after the 2-0 defeat at Shrewsbury a week ago which saw his side slip to 20th place.

He made four changes to the XI, although three of which were enforced.

Rob Hall came in for Marvin Johnson, whose partner had gone into labour, while Alex MacDonald and John Lundstram replaced Liam Sercombe (knee) and Joe Rothwell (ill).

The only tactical change was Phil Edwards returning at right back in place of Charlie Raglan.

All the focus was on starting the game in the right way – but Appleton could hardly have dreamt of the way the opening 45 minutes went.

The hosts came flying out of the blocks and never looked back.

Kane Hemmings had a shot saved by City goalkeeper Lee Burge, while Gael Bigirimana cleared a Chey Dunkley shot off the line, all before the opening goal in the seventh minute.

A long ball from Curtis Nelson was expertly taken down by Chris Maguire into the path of Hemmings, who slotted home from 15 yards.

United were playing as if their lives depended on it and combined a feverish work ethic with quality on the ball.

City were overwhelmed and the only surprise was it took until the half-hour mark for the lead to be extended.

Hemmings, a man transformed, controlled a ball into the box and jinked past two players, before his shot struck Sterry and rebounded into the net.

The front two of Maguire and Hemmings were a revelation and they combined again to make it 3-0 six minutes later.

Hemmings threaded a pass to the Scot, whose quick feet lured a mis-timed challenge from Lewis Page which earned a penalty.

Maguire calmly sent Burge the wrong way to collect his eighth goal of the season.

Oxford Mail:

  • Chris Maguire celebrates scoring from the penalty spot to make it 3-0 before half-time

It all happened before Coventry mustered a single attempt on goal.

When it came, from an Andre Wright effort saved by Simon Eastwood seven minutes before the break, the away fans burst into a chant of “we’ve had a shot”.

City enjoyed a decent spell either side of half-time, but United held firm.

And on the hour any lingering doubts over where the points were heading was settled by a fourth goal for the home side.

Maguire was again pivotal, dancing round the back of the Sky Blues defence.

His cutback eventually fell to MacDonald, who made no mistake with a fierce low shot from eight yards.

United continued to tear into their visitors and after Burge palmed a Maguire shot round the post, Dunkley’s header at the resulting corner was only prevented from finding the net by Hemmings.

Thomas had been brought on just before the goal, but his afternoon was over within ten minutes.

The striker appeared to go over on his right ankle and had to be carried off by a stretcher – an unsettling sight a week after Liam Sercombe departed in the same manner.

Unfortunately the medical staff were quickly back on to the pitch.

This time Skarz was in need of the stretcher, after he had been inadvertently been floored by Dunkley, who headed a corner away.

The game was held up for several minutes as the left back was very carefully placed on to a stretcher, before being taken away to get treatment.

The long delay slowed United’s momentum and led to 11 minutes added on.

During the marathon extra period Dunkley was adjudged to have fouled Sterry in the box, conceding a penalty which Tudgay converted.

The loss of a clean sheet was a minor irritation, but could not spoil what was by some distance United’s best result of the season.

Oxford Utd: Eastwood, Edwards, Nelson, Dunkley, Skarz (Ruffels 82), MacDonald, Lundstram, Ledson, Hall (Thomas 58, T Roberts 68), Maguire, Hemmings.

Unused subs: Buchel, Welch-Hayes, Raglan, Taylor.

Coventry C: Burge, Sterry, Turnbull, Willis, Page, Gadzhev (Maycock 68), Stevenson (Harries HT), Bigirimana, Lameiras (Tudgay 68), Sordell, Wright.

Unused subs: Charles-Cook, Jones, Reid, Agyei.

Referee: Darren England (South Yorkshire).

Attendance: 9,199 (1,477 visitors).