OXFORD United ended 2021 with one of their most dominant performances of the year as they brushed aside AFC Wimbledon.

The U’s were too slick for their opponents in an opening 45 minutes where Mark Sykes and Matty Taylor put them in charge, before Sam Long completed the scoring on the hour mark.

United had not played for 11 days, but it was Wimbledon’s first game since December 11 and the hosts controlled much of the contest.

Sykes calmly converted his seventh goal of the season after 27 minutes, before Taylor slid in to take his tally to 12 shortly before the break.

Long opened his account for the campaign with a firm volley in the second half, as the U’s climbed to fifth in Sky Bet League One.

Karl Robinson’s final starting XI of the calendar year showed three changes, with welcome returns for Cameron Brannagan, Herbie Kane and Jordan Thorniley.

The two midfielders were out of isolation and the latter back from suspension, allowing Long to move across to right back.

Anthony Forde, Marcus McGuane and Billy Bodin dropped to the bench, joining Luke McNally and Sam Winnall – both of whom missed the defeat to Wigan Athletic with Covid.

There was a late change to the officials, as Trevor Kettle took charge of his first U’s game since April’s controversial defeat at Sunderland.

United have not had too much joy with the Rutland referee present, but they started with real purpose and went on to dominate the contest.

Gavin Whyte should have put them 1-0 up inside three minutes, after Steve Seddon fed Ryan Williams down the left – not for the last time.

The winger sent a teasing cross to the back post, but his teammate could not apply the finishing touch.

United constantly found space in tight areas and Brannagan played in Taylor after 13 minutes, with Wimbledon goalkeeper Nik Tzanev equal to the striker’s shot.

Kane and Brannagan almost combined to stunning effect shortly after, the Barnsley loanee firing a pass into his teammate to control, turn and shoot in one movement. The ball whistled past the post, but it would have been some goal.

It was only a matter of time until United opened the scoring and there was no surprise to see it created down the left.

Williams took Seddon’s pass and raced into the box, before cutting the ball back to Sykes to slot home his seventh of the season on the half-volley.

Kettle soon caused tempers to boil over, Robinson directing his fury at the referee after a decision went against United.

The U’s were moving the ball beautifully and Long’s effort was beaten away by Tzanev at the near post, before Taylor scored a mirror image of his strike against Wigan last time out.

This time Whyte burst clear down the right and the winger delivered a cross in between the Wimbledon goalkeeper and centre backs, with Taylor sliding in for his 11th goal in 15 games.

United could not start the second half with the same intensity as the first, although they did have the ball in the net within seven minutes of the restart.

Long galloped down the right and crossed for Taylor to control on the half-volley and flick home, but the offside flag went up almost immediately.

The U’s began to rediscover their first-half form and went 3-0 up on the hour mark, with Whyte claiming his second assist of the evening.

A corner was partially cleared to the Northern Ireland international, who saw Long steaming in at the back post. The cross was inch-perfect and the full-back finished on the volley.

Long tested Tzanev with a swerving drive moments later, before both managers made substitutions.

Zach Robinson, Dapo Mebude and George Marsh replaced Egil Kaja, Ollie Palmer and Anthony Hartigan as Wimbledon made all three changes, while McGuane came on for Whyte in United’s first change.

The visitors racked up the yellow cards as Daniel Csoka, Alex Woodyard and Marsh were all penalised, while Robinson turned away exasperated when Elliott Moore was booked harshly.

Winnall replaced Taylor for his first appearance since the defeat at Wimbledon on September 4, before Paul Osew and Zach Robinson forced Eastwood to beat away fierce efforts late on.

“We’ve had a shot,” sang the away fans, which summed up United’s dominance.

Oxford United (4-3-3): Eastwood, Long, Moore, Thorniley, Seddon, Sykes (Forde 82), Kane, Brannagan, Whyte (McGuane 68), Taylor (Winnall 79), Williams.

Unused subs: Stevens, McNally, Davis, Bodin.

Booked: Kane, Moore.

AFC Wimbledon (4-2-3-1): Tzanev, Osew, Heneghan, Guinness-Walker, Csoka, Woodyard, Hartigan (Marsh 71), Kaja (Mebude 67), McCormick, Rudoni, Palmer (Robinson 67).

Unused subs: Oualah, Lawrence, Alexander, Chislett.

Booked: Csoka, Woodyard, Marsh.

Referee: Trevor Kettle (Rutland).

Attendance: 7,915 (780 visitors).