Shea Charles scored a stunning goal to help Southampton to victory against Oxford United and keep them inside the Championship's top six.

Saints took an early lead when Cyle Larin converted a low Tom Fellows cross from close range for the opener.

Minutes later Charles struck from around 30 yards, curling a stunning effort from distance into the top corner to make it two.

After defeat, Oxford drop down a place to 23rd in the table but remain only one point behind fourth-bottom Portsmouth.

Southampton struck first when Taylor Harwood-Bellis split the Oxford defence open with a pass that found Fellows dashing down the right-hand side.

After controlling possession, the winger then drilled a pass across the box for Larin who stretched for the ball and then guided home for his third Championship goal of the season since arriving on loan in January.

Eckert's side then doubled their lead in the 13th minute as a short corner routine found its way to Charles who curled a right-foot effiort into the top corner of the net from outside of the box, a brilliant effort.

Oxford had penalty shouts waved away early in the second half when Flynn Downes went shoulder-to-shoulder with Stan Mills and knocked him over in the box, but referee Ben Toner was unconvinced.

The U's had an encouraging start to the second period with chances for Cameron Brannagan and Will Lankshear well blocked by the Southampton defence.

Tottenham loanee Lankshear then had a great chance to get Oxford back into the game as he intercepted the ball and ran through on goal, but his effort was wide of the target.

Fellows struck the crossbar late on with an effort from a narrow angle as his wait for a first goal since arriving in the summer from West Bromwich Albion goes on, despite registering five assists.

Southampton boss Tonda Eckert told BBC Radio Solent:

"We've had a couple of very tough away games and we knew that these two games at home now gave us a chance to finish off not just this week but a block of four months.

"We've been going straight since November and we just knew that we wanted to finish strong on that block.

"It was a big one for us today going two up, but then you need to keep the attention high because you're still on the ball.

"It's never so easy if rhythm of the game then slows down, but obviously then when the spaces are up on a counter you need to be ready to defend them.

"I think we've done this quite well over big spells, obviously there's always a couple of moments that we can improve on, but overall yes it's another clean sheet and I'm so happy about today and ready for a couple of days off."

Oxford United boss Matt Bloomfield speaking to BBC Radio Oxford:

"I'm really disappointed, especially with the second goal for him to strike from that far away, there's not a huge amount we could have done about that

"We came out from a set piece and I'm not sure he'll (Charles) ever score another goal like that, it was an unbelievable strike.

"We had some moments before they've scored, a couple of long throws, some moments in their box and then we found ourselves two goals down but we kept going and I'm proud of the boys for that."