OXFORD United ran riot against nine-man Stevenage to equal their biggest away win in the Football League.

Ryan Taylor ended the long wait to open his account to give United an early lead, but Sam Slocombe quickly gifted Chris Whelpdale an equaliser.

When Liam Sercombe had a penalty saved it looked like it might not be United's day, but the midfielder made amends from the spot after Jamie McCombe was sent off for a challenge on Danny Hylton in the box.

Alex MacDonald made it 3-1 after the break and when Michael Tonge saw red for a bad tackle on the outstanding John Lundstram, United turned up the heat.

Taylor bagged his second goal, before Roofe completed the scoring with a stylish fifth as United climbed to second in Sky Bet League Two.

It was the first time they had hit five on the road since a 5-1 win at Forest Green Rovers in October 2006 - and matched the club record away win in the Football League, joining wins by the same scoreline at Walsall in 1988 and Leyton Orient six years earlier.

Michael Appleton was forced to make two changes from the 3-2 home defeat to Barnet.

Jake Wright's back injury promoted Chey Dunkley, while Taylor profited from Jordan Graham being recalled from loan by Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The visitors looked refreshed after a blank week and immediately looked dangerous.

MacDonald whistled a shot just over after 65 seconds, while Roofe quickly forced Jesse Joronen into a smart block at his near post.

Stevenage boss Teddy Sheringham frantically looked to get instructions on from the touchline, but United's attacking players kept finding space.

They opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Sercombe found a gap and when his shot was blocked by Joronen back to the midfielder, he cut the ball back for Taylor to tap into the net.

Danny Hylton had a goal disallowed for offside, before out of nowhere Stevenage were gifted an equaliser.

Sam Slocombe raced out of his area to clear a through pass, but contrived to pass straight to Whelpdale.

The midfielder kept his cool to return the ball into the empty net from out near the touchline.

It was a blow for United, but the game continued to rocket along and within two minutes Sercombe went down in the box.

It looked soft, but referee Lee Swabey pointed to the spot.

Sercombe took the spot-kick himself, only to become the fourth U's player to fail from 12 yards this season as Joronen dived right to palm the ball wide.

But United kept causing problems and seven minutes later Swabey awarded another penalty when Hylton was sent crashing to the floor.

Defender Jamie McCombe was the culprit and was sent off for the offence.

Sercombe stepped up again - and found the net by hitting it down the middle as Joronen went right a second time.

With just ten men Stevenage showed no inclination to put pressure on United in possession.

They looked to make the most of the space, as John Lundstram in particular pulled the strings.

In first half stoppage time it was almost 3-1, when Hylton and Taylor combined to set up Roofe, whose low shot beat Joronen but struck his right-hand post.

There was still time for Slocombe to begin making amends for his earlier error by parrying a Dean Parrett free-kick.

The set piece was awarded after a tackle from Dunkley, who was booked for the fifth time this season and will now be suspended for next Sunday's FA Cup tie at Braintree Town.

Stevenage continued to sit off and give United time on the ball after the break.

It looked a baffling approach as Lundstram strolled around and picked passes at will.

There was no surprise the deep-lying midfielder was involved in the third goal, which came on 66 minutes.

He sprayed a glorious pass out to MacDonald, who fed the overlapping Baldock and sprinted into the box to finish off the full back's cross.

Stevenage hit the self-destruct button, with Tonge going over the top of the ball to wipe out Lundstram.

As Appleton raged at the tackle from the touchline, Tonge received a straight red card.

Against nine men, United tucked in.

Taylor doubled his tally by heading in Baldock's cross and three minutes later Roofe made it 5-1 by curling in a shot from 20 yards for his tenth goal of the season.

Roofe, Taylor and MacDonald were all withdrawn for another day as United indulged in a shooting session in the closing stages.

To Stevenage's relief they did not concede again as the visitors took their foot off the gas, although Joronen made a smart save to deny AJ George a maiden senior goal.

  • Oxford United's players celebrate after the final whistle with the 876 away fans

Stevenage: Joronen, Franks, Hughes, McCombe, Okimo, Whelpdale (Akinyemi 82), Parrett (Kennedy 75), Tonge, Conlon (Henry 29), Pett, Gnanduillet.

Unused subs: Day, Marriott, Wells, Loza.

Oxford Utd: Slocombe, Baldock, Dunkley, Mullins, Skarz, MacDonald (O'Dowda 69), Lundstram, Sercombe, Roofe (George 76), Hylton, Taylor (Hoban 73).

Unused subs: Buchel, Cundy, Ashby, Rose.

Referee: Lee Swabey (Devon).

Attendance: 3,412 (876 visitors).