Oxford United 0 Sheffield United 3: Debutant Murphy takes the plaudits as Blades coast through

But he was still delighted to see his side advance into the fourth round of the FA Cup with goals from Tony McMahon, Dave Kitson and Nick Blackman.

Wilson said: “Our main priority is clearly the league but it doesn’t do any harm to have a run in the FA Cup because it adds to the coffers, which is important, and it’s much nicer to be sat there on a Sunday waiting for your name to be pulled out of the hat than when you’ve been knocked out.”

Wilson, who hailed victory as “a great cup performance away from home”, was impressed by debutant winger Jamie Murphy, signed last week from Motherwell. “I think with Jamie we’ve added an extra threat to the team.

“The first goal was a terrific free-kick by Tony McMahon but it was all caused by Jamie, who is brilliant in the way he runs at people. The delivery from Ryan Flynn at the free-kick for our second goal was also top quality, and the last goal was a great move, with a great ball in from Kevin McDonald – and what a finish by Blackman.

“To keep a clean sheet was great because Oxford have as good an offensive threat as many teams in our division.”

McMahon found the net with a first-half free kick from 20 yards before Kitson bundled home from close range.

Tom Craddock saw his near-post shot turned behind by Blades goalkeeper George Long and Justin Richards inexplicably fired high and wide for the U’s.

But Blackman sealed victory with a stunning late half-volley.

Oxford United manager Chris Wilder, who made over 100 appearances for the Blades, was not downhearted. He said: “I wanted us to show what our true colours were and we did. Maybe in the big moments in the game we lacked a touch of quality where they showed their class.

“I didn’t think it was a free-kick for the first goal but I could talk about that all day long.

“I thought our boys caused them a few problems. We rode our luck also but we were playing against good players. We pushed them all the way.”

Oxford United: Clarke, Batt, Duberry, Wright, O’Brien (Rigg 67), Potter, Heslop, Leven, Capaldi, Craddock, Richards. Unused substitutes: Brown, Raynes, Worley, Parker, Marsh, O’Dowda.

Sheffield United: Long, McMahon, Maguire, Higginbotham, Hill (Williams 12), Blackman, Doyle, McDonald, Murphy (Cresswell 88), Flynn, Kitson (Ironside 76). Unused substitutes: Coyne, Tonne, Whitehouse, Kennedy.

Referee: C Boyeson (E Yorkshire).

Man of the match: Jamie Murphy.