Goal-shy Aston Villa finally found their scoring touch to beat Third Division Oxford and book their place in the fourth round of the Worthington Cup.

Villa had scored just once on their travels so far this season - at Old Trafford - but were rewarded for an improved second-half display.

Ian Taylor stabbed home the first from close range just seconds after the visitors had survived a goalmouth scramble at the other end.

And Gareth Barry doubled the lead two minutes later.

Dion Dublin then scored the third to round off a satisfactory evening for Villa boss Graham Taylor, who had fulfilled his promise to take the much-criticised competition seriously.

Taylor made just two changes to the starting 11 that drew at Blackburn.

Olof Mellberg (Achilles) was replaced by Ronny Johnsen in defence, with Stefan Moore preferred up front to Juan Pablo Angel, who was demoted to the bench.

A sell-out crowd of 12,000 was creating a lively atmosphere with a large contingent of Villa fans making the short journey down the M40 to the Kassam Stadium.

They saw their side make a confident start to the game, although neither side were able to create a clear-cut chance in the opening stages.

United goalkeeper Andy Woodman had to be alert after three minutes to prevent Ian Taylor getting his head on Mark Kinsella's free-kick at the near post.

But Steve Staunton then failed to test Woodman, the Republic of Ireland international dragging his left-foot shot well wide of the goal.

At the other end, Villa's Stefan Postma looked assured as he stood in for Peter Enckelman, who was suspended following his dismissal against Southampton a fortnight ago.

Woodman misery

The first half was best forgotten, three Dublin headers from JLloyd Samuel crosses the best efforts of the opening 45 minutes, and none of those were on target.

Taylor attempted to add a much-needed cutting edge to his attack with the introduction of Angel at half time at the expense of Oyvind Leonhardsen.

Just as Oxford seemed to have weathered the storm, two goalmouth scrambles in the space of a minute then effectively decided the outcome of the game in favour of the visitors.

Delaney cleared off the linet before Staunton eventually cleared the danger after the ball had bounced around awkwardly in the six-yard box.

But seconds later, the home side were not so lucky as Woodman failed to gather a right-wing cross and Taylor gratefully stabbed home from close range.

Moments later their misery was complete as Barry scored Villa's second.

Barry was allowed to advance to the edge of the area and struck a shot with his less-favoured right foot that took a slight deflection, wrong-footing Woodman and finding the bottom corner of the net.

That ended the game as a contest but Dublin was eventually rewarded for his hard work, slotting home with the outside of his right foot to seal the victory.

Oxford Utd: Woodman, Crosby, Bound, Viveash, McNiven, Savage, Hunt, Whitehead, Robinson, Louis, Basham. Subs: Powell, Hackett, Gordon, Omoyinmi, Waterman.

Aston Villa: Postma, Delaney, Staunton, Johnsen, Samuel, Leonhardsen, Taylor, Kinsella, Barry, Dublin, Moore. Subs: Angel, Hitzlsperger, Allback, Crouch, Henderson.

Referee: M Messias (N Yorkshire).