OXFORD United moved to the top of Sky Bet League One with a 2-1 win against Bristol Rovers, despite ending the game with nine men.

Billy Bodin fired in during the first half against his former employers, who went down to 10 men just after the hour mark when Jevani Brown was shown his second yellow card of the afternoon.

Sam Long doubled the U’s advantage when he nodded in following a corner with nine minutes to play, however Aaron Collins ensured it would be a tense finale when he smashed home just before eight minutes of stoppage time were added on.

During that injury time, United saw both Oisin Smyth and Stanley Mills sent off – the former for picking up two yellow cards, while Mills was given a straight red for a challenge on Sam Finley.

Liam Manning named an unchanged side from the one which won 3-0 at home to Shrewsbury Town in midweek, with the sole switch from the matchday squad the absence of Tyler Goodrham, who was unavailable due to illness. Smyth took his place on the bench.

It meant Manning selected an untouched starting line-up in consecutive games for the first time this season.

The U’s were also unchanged for the wins against Fleetwood Town and Exeter City, however the defeat against MK Dons in the EFL Trophy was sandwiched between them.

The first sniff of goal came with four minutes on the clock, when James Beadle made amends for spilling the ball from a corner.

After a spot of pinball in the penalty box, Beadle made a save at point-blank range to deny Luke McCormick, and then thwarted Collins, before Lamare Bogarde fired into the sidenetting.

Chris Martin headed well wide from a delicious Jack Hunt cross, before United took the lead.

Ruben Rodrigues clipped a lovely ball over the Pirates backline, with Bodin taking a touch to set himself, before firing past Matthew Cox in the Rovers goal.

Another clever pass from Rodrigues almost got Mark Harris in on goal, however the striker was well marshalled by Connor Taylor.

At the other end, former Exeter City forward Brown sliced a dipping volley a couple of yards wide, with Long then a relieved man after half an hour had been played.

Collins picked Long’s pocket and made a burst for goal, forcing Beadle into a low stop from the left-hand side of the area.

Danger man Collins, named the League One player of the season during the previous campaign, then had the ball in the net after a right-wing cross, however he was flagged offside.

Pirates boss Joey Barton was shown a yellow card soon after, while Ryan Woods whistled an effort over the crossbar from 25 yards.

Harris then forced a smart stop out of Cox when he hit Rodrigues’ cross first time into the goalkeeper’s gloves.

In the final bit of goalmouth action in the first half, the ball broke to Collins in the left channel of the box, with his effort claimed by Beadle.

Manning made a change at the break as Mills replaced Fin Stevens.

Greg Leigh showed he was alert at the beginning of the second period by getting in front of Brown to stop the Pirates attacker getting a sight of goal in the six-yard box.

Rodrigues then launched a counter-attack down the right, playing the ball across for Harris, who fired straight at Cox from the edge of the 18-yard box.

Elliott Moore headed over a Cameron Brannagan corner, before Manning made his second switch in replacing Bodin with Josh Murphy.

The former Norwich City winger went close with his first touch, firing Mills’ pass at goal, however Cox denied him.

Sam Finley, on as a substitute for the away side, sent a rising effort over the bar from a tight angle, before Brown received his second yellow card for the visitors not long after an hour had been played.

With 20 minutes to go, United made their third alteration as Gatlin O’Donkor came on for Harris.

Rodrigues sought out the top right corner with a fizzing strike, however he watched the ball fly over the goal.

The U’s doubled their lead when Long headed over the line in a crowded box following a corner.

That two-goal lead was soon wiped out though when Collins smashed the ball into the roof of the net after weaving his way into the area, with United’s players unsuccessfully appealing for a foul on Mills in the build-up.

The game then ended in crazy fashion as both Smyth and Mills were sent off in stoppage time, and despite a rasping Scott Sinclair effort which Beadle pawed away, Manning’s side held on to claim all three points.

Oxford United (3-4-2-1): Beadle; Long, Moore, Brown; Stevens (Mills 46), McGuane, Brannagan, Leigh; Rodrigues (Smyth 88), Bodin (Murphy 58); Harris (O’Donkor 70).

Unused subs: Eastwood, Thorniley, McEachran.

Booked: Brannagan, Moore, Smyth.

Sent off: Smyth, Mills.

Bristol Rovers (4-3-3): Cox; Hunt (Hoole 75), Taylor, Grant, Vale; Bogarde (Evans 58), Woods, McCormick (Finley 58); Brown, Martin (Sinclair 84), Collins.

Unused subs: Hall, Gibbons.

Booked: Martin, Brown, Finley.

Sent off: Brown.

Referee: Simon Mather (Greater Manchester)

Attendance: 9,439 (1,475 visitors).