MATTY Taylor shrugged off Oxford United’s pre-match drama to seal their first Sky Bet League One victory of the campaign.

The striker got off the mark for the season with a late double in the 4-1 success at Accrington Stanley.

It was a superb end to a day which had begun in farcical fashion.

A squad depleted by injury and illness were unable to take the team bus from their hotel to the ground.

It had been halted when an alcohol-based sanitiser spray, used as a precaution against coronavirus, got into the driver’s breathalyser – preventing the engine from starting.

United had to split up, completing their journey in staff cars and taxis.

That might have caused a disruption to their concentration, but Taylor was unfazed as he jumped in coach Craig Short’s car.

He said: “To be honest we were relaxed, chatting away.

“I didn’t think it was anything different to be honest. I used to do that back in non-league, so it makes no difference to me.

“If you lose you’d be stood here using it as an excuse, but when you win you don’t.

“To me it didn’t affect us, we’d done all our preparation.

“It’s irrelevant how you’re getting to the ground.

“I think if you’re worrying about that then you’re in the wrong sport.”

For boss Karl Robinson, it had echoes of their 6-0 victory at Lincoln City last season.

On that occasion, the team bus took a wrong turn near the ground and got stuck, which prompted the players to walk the final few hundred yards.

“We had a terrible way of turning up at Lincoln,” the U’s boss said.

“We ended up walking in and then we scored six that day.

VIDEO: Highlights from Oxford United's win at Accrington

“Maybe the key to preparation is to get it all wrong. Then you’re asking for the players to respond.”

James Henry gave the visitors a half-time lead, but it was cancelled out when Simon Eastwood conceded a penalty, converted by Ryan Cassidy.

It began an eventful few minutes which saw United re-take the lead via a bizarre own goal and Dion Charles sent off, before Taylor made the game safe.

After a challenging few days, the striker was delighted to emerge with three points.

He said: “You always want those first points on the board.

“I think it’s shown everyone in the squad how we’re going to win games this season.

“Yes, we’ll play good football at times, but first and foremost you’ve got to work hard and do the not-so pretty things first and the rest will follow.”