OXFORD United showed no signs of being distracted by their trip to Wembley this weekend as they tore Bury apart to stay in the Sky Bet League One play-off race.

Conor McAleny struck a hat-trick after Marvin Johnson and Joe Rothwell had put the home side in charge.

It was suitable reward for a performance full of energy and invention, which proved far too good for a Bury side who had gone into the game on the back of four successive clean sheets.

James Vaughan’s 22nd goal of the season was a minor inconvenience, but United cruised to a victory which saw them close to within four points of the play-offs.

Coventry City boss Mark Robins was among the lowest league attendance of the season at the Kassam Stadium – and United’s performance will have given him plenty of food for thought ahead of the Checkatrade Trophy final.

Michael Appleton made two changes to the side which had shared a goalless draw with Northampton Town on Saturday.

Rob Hall and Kane Hemmings replaced Liam Sercombe and Toni Martinez, while Chris Maguire was again left out due to a groin injury.

Any fears the hosts would have their minds on Sunday’s cup final were quickly dispelled.

In the fourth minute Johnson and Rothwell played a succession of one-twos down the left flank, before the latter cut the ball back for McAleny to fire the ball wide.

Bury’s 3-5-2 system allowed space for United to attack out wide and right wing back Taylor Moore was quickly gasping for breath against Johnson.

It was no surprise the winger, playing as a left back, opened the scoring on 11 minutes.

Johnson drove forward and rode a couple of half-hearted challenges before threading a low shot into the far corner of the net from just inside the box.

The hosts were hungry and played with an intensity which Bury struggled to contain.

Shakers goalkeeper Joe Murphy made a smart save to keep out Johnson’s 25-yard effort, while more good football saw Hemmings exchange passes with Phil Edwards before volleying wide.

United’s biggest threat was complacency.

On the half-hour mark Edwards played a back pass straight to Ryan Lowe, who was unable to convert the chance into anything more than a weak shot at Simon Eastwood.

James Vaughan headed a Greg Leigh cross over three minutes later, as Bury began to get into the game.

But their momentum was killed stone dead by an error from Murphy.

A raid forward from Johnson appeared to have subsided, but the goalkeeper came out of his area and gave the ball away, allowing Rothwell to chip the ball into the empty net.

Within four minutes it was 3-0.

United broke from a Bury corner through and when the ball was switched to the right flank, Rob Hall got in round the back and crossed for McAleny to score from six yards.

The visitors should have gone in at half-time a man down, after an awful tackle from the experienced Lowe, who came through the back of Johnson.

Thankfully the U’s goalscorer was able to get up, but the hosts could not believe referee Andy Haines only booked the striker.

Lowe and fellow veteran Jermaine Pennant were substituted at half-time, but United simply picked up where they had left off.

McAleny grabbed his second and United’s fourth of the night shortly after the restart, collecting Hall’s pass and finding the far corner of the net from 18 yards.

The hosts’ smooth passage hit a speed bump when Vaughan headed in from a corner just before the hour to reduce the arrears.

United’s biggest concern came 20 minutes from time, when Eastwood stayed down after diving for a shot.

The home fans held their breath, but to their relief the goalkeeper played on after receiving treatment.

Appleton had the luxury of resting Hemmings, Rothwell and Johnson with one eye on Sunday, but the chances kept coming.

Substitutes Toni Martinez and Liam Sercombe were among those to come close to making it 5-1.

McAleny finally grabbed the fifth goal - completing his second hat-trick in a month - by turning in Martinez's cross with virtually the last kick of the game.

Oxford Utd (4-4-2): Eastwood, Edwards, Nelson, Dunkley, Johnson, Hall, Lundstram, Ruffels, Rothwell, McAleny, Hemmings.

Subs used: Martinez (Hemmings 67), Sercombe (Rothwell 67), Skarz (Johnson 83).

Unused subs: Stevens, Long, Ribeiro, Raglan.

Booked: Dunkley.

Bury (3-5-2): Murphy, Barnett, Kay, Bryan (Hope 68), Moore, Pennant (Walker HT), Caddis, Mellis, Leigh, Lowe (Miller HT), Vaughan.

Unused subs: Lainton, Burgess, Beadling, Pope.

Booked: Lowe, Mellis.

Referee: Andy Haines (Tyne & Wear).

Attendance: 6,552 (185 visitors).