Oxford United announced their return to the Football League by thrashing League One Bristol Rovers in the competition's League Cup, the Carling Cup, tonight.

Four goals in 11 minutes midway through the first half powered them into the second round in one of the shocks of the night.

All three strikers - Matt Green, James Constable and Jack Midson - had scored before the game was half an hour old.

And Constable then scored a quite sensational fifth goal - his second - with a sublime scissors kick from Damian Batt's cross on the run.

It was a magnificent display of attacking panache - and finishing - in United's first home game since they won promotion.

And an emphatic warning that they are back to any League Two rivals whose eyebrows will no doubt have been raised by the result.

It is 25 years ago that Oxford United began the campaign which was to win them this competition, the Milk Cup as it was then, and this was a performance up there with many from that cup run.

But Bristol Rovers, beaten 3-0 at Peterborough on Saturday, were frequently in disarray.

Simon Heslop got them off to the start they wanted with a cracking opening goal on 18 minutes.

Rovers had threatened before then, with a left-wing corner skimming off Anthony Tonkin's head before being cleared with some desperation.

But when the U's got into the groove going forward, there was no stopping them.

Dannie Bulman let the ball run, and although there were plenty of defenders between him and the goal, Heslop hammered a low right-footed drive past keeper Mike Green and into the far corner of the goal.

When the Pirates tried to respond, Harry Worley got in a good block.

But then the U's went into overdrive as an attacking force, and Green, making his debut in Rovers' goal because Mikkel Andersen was on international duty, hardly knew what had hit him.

Green made it 2-0, lashing the ball home after racing onto James Constable's pass. Green briefly stumbled, but still had the presence of mind to compose himself again before firing home.

The League One side pulled one back almost immediately, with midfielder Chris Lines making something out of nothing by drilling in a low shot from 18 yards.

But at the other end, the U's were slicing through Rovers' defence like the proverbial knife through butter.

And poor Mike Green, making his debut in the visitors' goal because regular Mikkel Andersen was on international duty with Denmark Under 21s, was left scarred and bloodied.

He was again picking the ball out of his net on 27 minutes following a great combination between Constable and Midson.

Constable threaded the ball for Green to sprint forward on a charge towards goal. As the keeper came out, a defender managed to get goalside of him, but Green unselfishly squared the ball on a plate for Constable to blast in from eight yards.

Two minutes later and it was 4-1. Constable's shot ricocheted against left back Gary Sawyer's chest and ran kindly for Jack Midson, who nipped in front of the keeper and tucked the ball home.

Not surprisingly, Chris Wilder's men went off to a standing ovation at half-time.

One thing both sets of supporters agreed on when the second half started was that they both hated Swindon, according to the chants, and after Constable's stunning second goal, the U's fans were soon singing "We want Six".

Many of them were in dreamland for the second match in succession, after Wembley.

Constable's second goal is worthy of much more detailed description because it's already a goal of the season contender.

Batt hit an outswinging cross from near the right touchline and Constable, with his back to goal 12 yards out, met it with a glorious scissors kick that left hapless keeper Green helpless.

By then, his namesake Matt Green, had almost scored a second, and Heslop, who was outstanding all night, dispossessed an opponent then tried an audacious chip which the keeper touched over his bar with some difficulty.

Wilder was able to bring on Alfie Potter, Simon Clist and Sam Deering for some useful game time.

There were some exceptional Oxford performances. Dannie Bulman, Batt and Midson had all been excellent.

But Heslop managed the crowning glory when, in injury time, he got United's sixth with sheer perseverence, determination, and a left-footed shot from the edge of the area just inside the left post.