Report: Clinical Saints too strong for Oxford

The U’s arrived on the south coast in resurgent mood having won three of their last four, but the league’s in-form side put a dent in the visitor’s growing survival hopes with a quick fire early brace.

Cyle Larin was grateful for great play from Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Tom Fellows to sweep home from close range, before Shea Charles grabbed his first goal at St Mary’s in stunning fashion.

A short corner looked to have lost its impetus when the ball was played back into the midfielder’s path 30 yards out, only for Charles to resurrect the attack with a first-time strike that headlined an efficient first half from the hosts.

The U's demonstrated their credentials after the restart and missed a gilt-edged chance to setup a nervy conclusion, but Saints steadied the ship to move 14 unbeaten in all competitions and retain their spot in sixth.

At the end of a gruelling run of five games in the space of two weeks, Tonda Eckert made three changes to the side that started Wednesday night’s impressive win over Norwich.

Refreshing his midfield, Shea Charles took Caspar Jander’s spot alongside Flynn Downes, while Cam Archer and Fellows came in on the flanks in place of Kuryu Matsuki and Sam Edozie.

Fellow’s first league start in a month, the winger’s inclusion paid off after just six minutes as he claimed a seventh assist of the season.

Harwood-Bellis’s pass from deep cut through the U’s low block to set Fellows in behind wide on the right, with his low cross perfect for Larin to steer home at the near post.

Cyle Larin grabbed his fourth Saints goal early on (Photo: Matt Watson)

A perfectly executed team move, individual brilliance created a second shortly after.

With the box packed, a short corner saw Archer pass the ball back into space midway inside the Saints half, where Charles stunned those inside St Mary’s with a first-time curling effort from 30 yards that nestled perfectly in the top corner.

Having moved into the play-off spots in midweek, Eckert’s side showed no signs of slowing down in their quest for promotion as their red-hot start mimicked that of the sunny conditions in SO14.

However, the early goals were to be Saints' only shots on target in the opening 45 minutes, as Oxford demonstrated why they’ve picked up 10 points from their last four outings.

Albeit unable to test Daniel Peretz guarding the Northam End, Matt Bloomfield’s side had spells of pressure that at least teased at the result not being foregone when the two sides emerged for the second half.

Looking to put the game beyond doubt, Ryan Manning almost set up Wednesday night’s hero Finn Azaz just three minutes after the restart, only for the Irishman’s low shot from inside the box to be blocked by Michal Helik.

Not giving up the ghost, the U’s responded with their most threatening spell of the match, cheered on by their travelling contingent in the far corner.

Some bodies on the line defending from Saints to throw themselves in front of shots from Jack Currie and Will Lankshear kept Peretz from being called into action, although it did provide encouragement for Matt Bloomfield’s side.

Shea Charles grabbed his first St Mary's goal in style (Photo: Matt Watson)

In response, Eckert introduced Edozie and Ross Stewart - back after missing the last three games - for Archer and goal scorer Larin just before the hour mark.

Despite the fresh legs it was the side in yellow who should have reduced the arrears, when Lankshear intercepted a Harwood-Bellis pass to race through on goal.

With only Peretz to beat, the Tottenham loanee fluffed his lines to send his low shot agonisingly wide of the far post to give Saints a reprieve.

The miss was almost compounded just five minutes later when Saints’ came within the width of the woodwork from making it three.

Stewart almost marked his return with a goal but for Jamie Cumming’s diving save, with the rebound falling to Fellows at a tight angle, whose rasping strike came back off the underside of the bar and somehow away from danger.

Ryan Manning went close with a free-kick from the edge of the box that needed Cumming's intervention inside the last 10 minutes, but Saints secured a second cleansheet of the week to sign off for the international break in impressive fashion.

Southampton: Peretz, Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens (c), Manning (Quarshie 90+1'), Downes, Charles, Fellows (Matsuki 77’), Azaz (Oyekunle 90+1'), Archer (Edozie 59’), Larin (Stewart 59’).

Unused substitutes: Long, Wood, Bragg, Jander.

Goals: Larin (6’), Charles (13’).

Oxford United: Cumming, Spencer, Long, Helik, Brown, Currie (Donley 70’), Konak (McDonnell 70’), Brannagan, Mills, Peart-Harris (Jin Woo 77’), Lankshear (Harris 77’).

Unused substitutes: Ingram, Vaulks, Emakhu, Prelec, Makosso.

Booked: Mills, Helik.

Attendance: 30,428.

Referee: Ben Toner.