OXFORD United survived an almighty scare as Fleetwood Town almost fought back from 3-0 down to force a draw at Highbury.

The U’s held on to win 3-2 and claim their first away victory against the Cod Army, but it should have been far more straightforward after scoring three times in the first 16 minutes.

Nathan Holland marked his 50th United appearance with a goal, before Cameron Brannagan bagged his 14th of the season and Billy Bodin headed home the third.

The U’s were in control but they failed to keep the initiative and Ellis Harrison’s penalty pulled one back, with Cian Hayes further reducing the deficit eight minutes after the break.

United were rocking and Ciaron Brown cleared off the line shortly after, but they just about held on to end their run of three straight defeats.

The U’s stay eighth in Sky Bet League One and results elsewhere mean they are still four points off the play-off places.

Karl Robinson named an unchanged starting XI for the first time since February, while James Henry replaced Sam Winnall on the substitutes’ bench with the striker unavailable for family reasons.

Fleetwood made three changes, the most notable in goal. Alex Cairns was sent off last Saturday so in came Kieran O’Hara – the Burton Albion stopper when United won 5-1 at the Pirelli Stadium last January.

The goalkeeper must be sick of the sight of the U’s, who took control in a clinical opening 16 minutes.

United scored even earlier than their last visit to Lancashire ten days ago, as Holland fired home his seventh goal of the season from their first attack.

Bodin’s cross was behind Taylor and Brannagan lost control on a bobbly pitch, but the West Ham United loanee stayed alert and converted at the back post.

Unlike against Morecambe, the U’s capitalised on their superiority and were 2-0 up inside seven minutes.

The visitors moved the ball from right to left before Brannagan seized the initiative, bursting into the penalty area and picking out the same corner as Holland.

Referee Bobby Madley must be a good-luck charm for the midfielder - the official was in charge when United’s No 8 scored four penalties at Gillingham in January.

Bodin then almost finished a beautiful move involving Mark Sykes and Matty Taylor, but he could not squeeze the ball past O’Hara one-on-one.

It was quickly forgotten, with the midfielder making it 3-0 barely 60 seconds later. Brannagan went from scorer to creator, clipping a cross towards the penalty spot for Bodin to guide a header into the corner.

The 30-year-old’s fifth goal of the season was met by boos from the home faithful, with Fleetwood making it far too easy for United.

The hosts rallied and Callum Camps rattled the top of the crossbar with a free-kick from 20 yards, before Harrison fired wide from a tight angle.

United remained on top in the sunshine and Sykes sliced an effort wide when O’Hara’s weak punch fell his way, but Fleetwood pulled one back six minutes before the break.

The ball fell loose after a free-kick and Harrison fired straight at Sam Long, who raised his arms and was deemed to have handled the ball.

The striker sent Jack Stevens the wrong way from the penalty spot, before Paddy Lane dispossessed Long moments later and lobbed just wide of the far post.

Taylor should have restored the three-goal lead just before the break when Brannagan’s deflected effort fell his way 12 yards out, but O’Hara made himself big to save.

There was an equally fast start to the second half, with Stevens pushing a Harrison header behind 30 seconds after the restart.

At the other end Holland darted inside to find Sykes, whose low cross was perfect for Taylor to slide home from close range – only for the offside flag to cut short the celebrations.

Instead, the next goal fell to the hosts as they further reduced the deficit. United’s defence was all at sea as the Cod Army raced forward and Harrison chased a through ball.

Stevens was out bravely to smother but the loose ball fell kindly for Hayes to pass into an empty net, with the U’s goalkeeper needing treatment to add insult to injury.

Fleetwood almost completed the comeback when Harvey Macadam knocked Lane’s deflected effort past Stevens, but Brown raced back to clear off the line.

Gavin Whyte replaced Holland but United still looked shaky, as they struggled to keep possession in a period of Fleetwood pressure.

They almost hit back when Sykes beat two men on his outside and fired a cross-shot past O’Hara, only for the ball to evade the far corner and a sliding Bodin.

Henry replaced the former Bristol Rovers man and Anthony Pilkington came on for Macadam, with Fleetwood now playing 4-2-3-1.

United remained unable to wrestle back control and Luke McNally produced a crucial block 13 minutes from time to deny Lane 12 yards out.

Fleetwood’s dangerman was replaced by Josh Harrop moments later, while Ryan Williams came on for Sykes as the U’s looked to close out victory.

There was another twist as Henry clashed heads with Tom Clarke going up for an aerial challenge, with United allowed to make a fourth change because of the head injury.

Marcus McGuane came on just before the nine minutes of added time as Fleetwood forced a series of set-pieces and throws, but United just about held on.

Fleetwood Town (4-3-3): O’Hara, Johnson, Nsiala, Clarke, Jules, Macadam (Pilkington 70), Batty, Camps, Lane (Harrop 80), Harrison (Garner 90), Hayes.

Unused subs: Donaghy, Butterworth, Baggley, Boyle.

Booked: Harrison.

Oxford United (4-3-3): Stevens, Long, McNally, Moore, Brown, Bodin (Henry 69 (McGuane 89) ), Kane, Brannagan, Sykes (Williams 84), Taylor, Holland (Whyte 59).

Unused subs: Eastwood, Seddon, Forde.

Booked: Brannagan, Stevens.

Referee: Robert Madley (West Yorkshire).

Attendance: 2,589 (739 visitors).