Aaron Ramsey described Oxford United as "resilient and relentless" after they beat Burton Albion with three goals in the final quarter of Saturday's League One fixture, moving the U's up to fifth in the table.

The match looked as though it might end goalless until Siriki Dembele broke the deadlock on 76 minutes. Louie Sibley and Gatlin O'Donkor then added further goals deep into the closing stages to settle things emphatically in Oxford's favour.

"It was a different test but one we had to stand up to, so full credit to the boys," Ramsey told BBC Radio Oxford. "They had a resilience and relentlessness to keep creating opportunities and take the game to Burton, especially in the second half, which was really encouraging for us."

Backing up the Leicester result

The win arrived a week after Oxford put four past Leicester City, and Ramsey was candid about how much importance he placed on following that result up rather than letting the momentum slip.

"A really important aspect for me off the back of the result at Leicester was to back that result up in the next game, and we managed to do that," he said. "It was a really pleasing performance but also one we can learn from to continue to get better."

That kind of self-critical honesty after a comfortable-looking win is worth noting. Ramsey did not reach for the superlatives and bank the three points; he pointed to areas for improvement while acknowledging what his players had done well. Whether that reflects a settled coaching philosophy or a squad still finding its shape will become clearer over the weeks ahead.

Where Oxford sit after five games

The victory takes Oxford to 10 points from five matches. Crucially, they have played one game fewer than most of their rivals at this stage, bar Reading, which means the table flatters them slightly in terms of matches played but also carries a game in hand into the weeks ahead.

Fifth place is a decent early-season return for a side that began the campaign without a great deal of fanfare, and the late-goals pattern against Burton will give Ramsey some encouragement that fitness and conditioning are holding up through 90 minutes. Three times in the final 14 minutes, Oxford found the net; that is not typically the profile of a side running on empty.

Burton take another blow

For Burton, the defeat is a second painful result in short order. Manager Ian Bowyer had already spoken publicly about his side needing to respond better after a recent setback, and conceding three times late on will do nothing to ease that frustration. Burton had a point to prove at the Kassam Stadium and will feel they let that opportunity go in the closing moments.

Oxford, by contrast, will head into the coming fixtures with confidence growing. Three wins from five, a game in hand over most of the division, and a head coach who seems to be getting something tangible out of a squad that had plenty of questions asked of it during the summer. The third tier rarely lets anyone get comfortable, but Oxford are giving their supporters reasons to watch the table with genuine interest.

Frequently asked

What was the score when Oxford beat Burton?
Oxford United beat Burton Albion 3-0, with all three goals coming in the final 14 minutes. Siriki Dembele scored first on 76 minutes, then Louie Sibley and Gatlin O'Donkor added further goals late on.
Where are Oxford United in the League One table?
After the Burton win, Oxford United sit fifth in the League One table with 10 points from five matches. They also have a game in hand over most sides in the division.
What did Aaron Ramsey say after the Burton win?
Oxford head coach Aaron Ramsey praised his players for their resilience and relentlessness, particularly in the second half, and highlighted how important it was to back up the previous week's win over Leicester City.