PEP Clotet underlined the importance of Oxford United’s strong start as they beat AFC Wimbledon 3-0 at the Kassam Stadium.

Wes Thomas’s fine finish gave the hosts a 12th-minute lead in the Sky Bet League One clash.

It proved an early blow for Wimbledon, before second-half goals from Ricardinho and substitute Xemi sealed victory as United more than deserved the three points in a professional display.

Boss Clotet was delighted to see his side get off to a quick start.

He said: “We’ve not scored first for five games and we have the feeling every time you start strong and score in the first half, we normally find it a little bit better to put our football in.

“And that was the message that came across even last week against Peterborough (a 4-1 win) and today as well.”

Goalkeeper Simon Eastwood was rarely troubled, but pulled off a superb save to deny Cody McDonald at the start of the second half.

United countered and the Dons failed to clear a James Henry cross, leading to Ricardinho firing a low drive into the bottom corner.

Clotet said: “It would have meant it got back to a draw.

“The fact your keeper saves their one shot on target it says a lot, because the focus was there and we counter-attacked and we scored the second goal.”