A penalty converted by skipper Andy Crosby a minute for the end earned Oxford United a deserved win over Lincoln City who had seven players booked and manager Keith Alexander dismissed from the dug-out at the Kassam Stadium.
The only surprise was that they were not any goals in the first half - it could have been 4-4, but it was all Oxford after the interval.
Lincoln's strikers Simon Yeo and Dene Cropper have three goals between them in the last ten league matches and both missed sitters early on.
In the ninth minute Yeo had a close-range shot blocked by Andy Woodman and with the goal at his mercy he stroked the rebound wide.
Thirty minutes later Cropper headed a perfect cross by full-back Mark Bailey wide from five yards and shortly before half-time Yeo broke through and his attempted chip was easily held by Woodman on the edge of the area.
Oxford did not threaten until the 28th minute when Lincoln’s goalkeeper Alan Marriott made a magnificent save to turn away a rasping left-foot drive from fullback Scott McNiven and a minute later Crosby and Steve Basham had headers blocked on the line, The visitors were picking up regular bookings and when Ben Futcher became the fifth player to be cautioned Alexander vented his anger at referee Paul Rejer and was dismissed from the dug-out.
Alexander sent on substitute Scott Willis for Ben Sedgemore after 83 minutes and six minutes later he handled an intended cross by Paul Powell from a short corner. Crosby slammed the penalty past Marriott to make it three wins in a row at home.
Lincoln's manager said later: “We deserve something from the game and we were harshly treated for some of the bookings when they got off for similar fouls." Added Alexander: "I told the referee he was poor in no uncertain terms and he dismissed me when I protested at Futcher’s booking. He will be able to go away tonight, go home and retire at the end of the season. As far as I am concerned it cannot come too soon.â€