Oxford United's excellent start to the season continued with another convincing away win this afternoon.
Wonderful strikes from Stan Mills, Billy Bodin and Kyle Edwards eased the U's to a 3-0 win at Fleetwood and sent Liam Manning's side back into the play-off places as the Sky Bet League 1 table begins to take meaningful shape.
United opted for the experience of Jordan Thorniley and Sam Long at the back and the pace of Mills and Edwards down the flanks, and it was the wide players who did the damage with powerful efforts either side of an excellent goal from the hard-working Bodin, who led the line superbly.
United were in front after 16 minutes as a long spell of possession ended with a first senior goal from Everton-loanee Mills.
United had worked the ball all over the pitch, with the home side toiling to track them, but when Ruben Rodrigues rolled the ball inside to Mills, the winger floated infield and then unleashed a wonderful left-footed effort that flew past keeper Jay Lynch for an unstoppable opener.
The home side were under the guidance of new boss Lee Johnson for the first time - although he was left with a view from the stands while he serves a touchline ban - but struggled to find the famed ‘New Manager Bounce’ as the opener allowed United to open up and really hit their stride.
It was no surprise when Bodin doubled the lead after 28 minutes. Cameron Brannagan delivered a cross, Elliott Moore nodded down and Bodin showed wonderful technique to keep his shot down and into the net, with Lynch flat-footed and helpless.
The magnificent away fans, who had travelled from Tackley, Thame and Tokyo, were having a great weekend out by the sea, although they were thankful that a Jayden Stockley effort came back off the bar as the home side tried to find a way back into the game. Otherwise, James Beadle had a comfortable game as those in front of him kept the Cod Army well away from their net.
Johnson made three changes at the break, and that initially lifted the home side. However, in every league game so far this season, the side that scored first has gone on to win the game, and The U's were in no mood to let that run end. Midfield duo Brannagan and Marcus McGuane continued to run the show, and after an inital flurry from Fleetwood, the away side regained the ascendancy.
On the hour that was confirmed when Edwards joined Mills in the Goal of the Season competition with a beauty.
The on-loan Ipswich winger was giving right-back Ryan Broom all sorts of trouble and had just swept past him twice on the outside. This time he came inside and brushed off his challenge before unleashing another thunderbolt that left Lynch clutching at thin air.
Now rampant, United might have had four, but Brannagan's shot bounced back off the right-hand post, but by then the result was beyond all doubt.
Another fine display, a feast of eye-catching football, a clean sheet and three points on the road. A long way still to go but days like this are to be enjoyed. Two home games this week, against MK Dons in the Trophy and Exeter in the league. Come and join us...
Att: 3,744
Away: (TBC)
Report by Chris Williams, pictures Darrell Fisher and Steve Edmunds, stats by OPTA