OXFORD United secured all three points at home to Shrewsbury Town thanks to a first goal for the club from Fin Stevens, plus second half strikes from Ciaron Brown and Greg Leigh.

Stevens popped up at the back post just after the quarter of an hour mark, while Brown doubled the lead after an hour, not long after Joe Anderson received a second yellow card of the evening.

Greg Leigh then grabbed his third goal in two games after taking advantage of some questionable goalkeeping from Marko Marosi.

Liam Manning made just the one alteration from the side which won 3-1 at Stevenage, as Mark Harris returned from his three-game ban suspension to lead the line.

Billy Bodin dropped back into a deeper role, with Tyler Goodrham the one who made way for Harris. Stephan Negru wasn’t named in the matchday squad.

United lined up in the same 3-4-2-1 system which served them so well against Stevenage, but in the opening stages against the Shrews, Manning’s side were a little more ponderous in possession and unable to carve out any openings.

With 10 minutes on the clock, Elliott Moore clipped a ball over the top for Harris to run onto, however the striker was nudged out of the way by Morgan Feeney.

Tom Bayliss saw a left-wing cross intercepted in the penalty area by Ciaron Brown, before Bayliss then fired a shot into the arms of James Beadle in what was the first shot of the game, shortly after the quarter of an hour mark.

The U’s then took the lead from their first effort, as Stevens arrived at the back post to thunder in Leigh’s dangerous cross.

Former United centre back Chey Dunkley swiped a shot over as the visitors looked for a response, before Harris was guilty of missing a golden opportunity.

The move started from a Shrews corner, as the U’s launched a rapid counter-attack.

Ruben Rodrigues freed Harris through the middle, with the Welshman having plenty of time to pick his spot when one-on-one with Marosi. However, United’s number nine placed his effort wide.

Just after the half hour mark, Cameron Brannagan worked himself space 20 yards out and forced Marosi to tip his shot over the crossbar.

Leigh then smashed a rising effort over the bar, before Elliott Bennett got in front of Brown to stop the Northern Ireland international poking home at the near post from a short corner.

In the closing stages of the opening period, Brannagan struck a 25-yard free kick into the wall, while Dunkley did well to block a Bodin effort from the centre of the penalty box.

Goodrham replaced Bodin after the half-time break, with the visitors soon down to 10 men after Anderson was shown two yellow cards, both of which were fouls on Stevens.

Moments after the sending off, Brown doubled the U’s advantage when he tapped in from close range following a Brannagan free kick.

Josh McEachran came on for Rodrigues in Manning’s next change, before Gatlin O’Donkor replaced Harris.

The game dropped off in intensity, although Brannagan fizzed a 25-yard effort over the bar in a U’s attack during the final quarter of an hour.

Leigh however ensured United scored three goals for the fourth league game in a row when he won possession out wide on the left after Marosi had strayed afar from his goal, and sent the ball into the empty net.

Oxford United (3-4-2-1): Beadle; Long, Moore, Brown; Stevens, McGuane, Brannagan, Leigh; Rodrigues (McEachran 66), Bodin (Goodrham 46); Harris (O’Donkor 73).

Unused subs: Eastwood, Thorniley, Murphy, Mills.

Booked: Leigh, Goodrham, McEachran.

Sent off: None.

Shrewsbury Town (5-3-2): Marosi; Bennett (Mata 64), Feeney, Dunkley, Flanagan, Anderson; Winchester (Udoh 64), Kenneh (Sobowale 82), Bayliss; Bowman (Perry 64), Phillips (Fleming 64).

Unused subs: Burgoyne, Benning.

Booked: Anderson.

Sent off: Anderson.

Referee: Charles Breakspear (Sussex).

Attendance: 7,212 (187 visitors).