MICHAEL Appleton thanked Oxford United for making him smile all night long as they delivered a huge shock to run out 4-0 winners at Brentford.

The Championship side were virtually out of the Capital One Cup tie after just 12 minutes, as Liam Sercombe, Danny Hylton and an astonishing long-range effort from Kemar Roofe put United 3-0 ahead.

Johnny Mullins completed the scoring after the break to emphatically send United into tomorrow night's second round draw.

A thrilled Appleton described it as one of his best nights in football.

"It's definitely up there," he said.

"I said to them at half-time 'regardless of what happens in the second half can I just say a big thank you to all of you, because for 45 minutes there I had a massive smile on my face'."

"That's difficult to do as a manager until you get to the 90th minute.

"We did to Brentford what another team in the Championship would try to do, so I've got to be pleased."

On Roofe's goal, he added: "It was a fantastic finish, a goal in a million.

"I'm sure it will be all over the TV and be one of the contenders for goal of the season already."

In a game full of highlights, Roofe's 45-yard effort was the pick.

The winger controlled a headed clearance from Jack Bonham, before showing great skill to fire over the back-pedalling goalkeeper and into the net.

He said: "I was going to hit it first time, but I thought 'compose yourself'.

"I knew he was off his line. I always have the feeling a long-range shot is on – and it was on tonight.

"I need to look back because I can't remember it fully, but it's probably my best goal."

Brentford opted to change their entire XI from their 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town on Saturday, fielding several youngsters making their debut.

United wanted to make a quick start, but Mullins admitted even they were caught by surprise.

He said: "The way we set about the game was brilliant.

"We wanted to have a quick start and saw they had put a few younger players in and looked to capitalise on it. And we did.

"I looked at the scoreboard and saw it was 3-0 after 12 minutes, which was quite stunning."