Cam blasts four from spot as U’s run amok

KARL ROBINSON hailed a ‘sensational’ away performance as Cameron Brannagan scored four penalties for his rampant U’s against struggling Gillingham.

But the drubbing left Gills caretaker Steve Lovell demanding clarity on his future at the club.

Robinson said: “The headlines will be about the penalties today, but it was a sensational away performance.

“Our movement was good, our rotation was exceptional, and we showed a real sense of maturity.”

Billy Bodin fired the visitors in front after eight minutes, after brilliantly cutting inside Max Ehmer before poking past Pontus Dahlberg.

Oxford doubled their lead soon after as Brannagan coolly converted his first penalty, following Olly Lee‘s lunge on Matty Taylor.

Taylor made it three just 19 minutes in when he glanced his header from Bodin’s free-kick into the bottom corner.

Brannagan extended the visitors’ advantage three minutes after halftime with his second spot-kick, one he won himself after being bundled over by the careless Dahlberg.

The U’s midfielder then became the first player in English football since Gillingham’s Josh Wright nearly five years ago to score a hat-trick of penalties, blazing his third off the inside of the post following Jack Tucker’s foul on Sam Long.

Danny Lloyd beat Oxford goalkeeper Jack Stevens at the second attempt to claim one back for the Gills, who have now gone 14 league games without a victory and sit 10 points from safety.

After substitute Daniel Phillips was adjudged to have handled in the box, Brannagan completed his unforgettable day seven minutes from time with the best of his four spot-kicks.

Gillingham added a second late on through Robbie McKenzie, before substitute Anthony Forde slid in to knock Ryan Williams’ cross into an empty net for Oxford’s seventh.

Lovell remains in the dark as to his future with just hours remaining in the transfer window.

“We’ve inherited a terrible situation at this football club,” said Lovell.

“We’re not miracle workers and the damage has been done. I don’t want to give in. It’s a big ask to turn the season around – if it’s me, or somebody else.”