Sheffield United’s deadline-day arrivals Kalvin Phillips and Joe Rothwell were introduced to the home crowd before kick-off, although neither was involved. Leo Hjelde, signed on loan from Sunderland, came off the bench for the closing stages of a feisty contest which included seven bookings.

Matt Bloomfield’s side gave themselves early hope through Peart-Harris’s 13th-minute opener as the January arrival from Brentford followed in Cameron Brannagan’s long-range effort and was rewarded when Cooper spilled it and presented him with his first goal for the club.

Sheffield United should have equalised nine minutes before the break but Tyler Bindon put a free header over the bar from a corner.

However, the threat they carried down the right flank all evening bore fruit in the 41st minute when a lovely ball from Ollie Arblaster found Harrison Burrows in space, and his astute pull-back fell nicely for Peck, who put the chance away.

The Blades were inches away from taking a lead into the interval but Gustavo Hamer’s spectacular curling attempt struck the bar.

Peart-Harris had an opportunity within a minute of the restart for Oxford, but a crucial intervention from Femi Seriki saved the day and the U’s were rarely seen again as an attacking force after that.

They were not short on spirit, but there was a gap in class and the Blades took the lead with a high-quality finish from Brooks, whose neat footwork from Tom Cannon’s cross opened up the space and his left-footed shot did the rest.

The home side pressed for a third and Ogbene delivered it, taking Hamer’s cross-field ball neatly on his chest before beating Oxford goalkeeper Jamie Cumming with his left foot.

It was his first goal in 23 months.