MATTY Taylor hopes Oxford United’s free-scoring form is here to stay for the remainder of the season.

The U’s won 6-0 at Crewe Alexandra last weekend and beat Shrewsbury Town 4-1 in midweek, with the striker one of ten different players to find the net.

Taylor’s form has ebbed and flowed much like United’s, but his goal in the latter game took him to 15 for the campaign.

He needs two more to match his tally for the shortened 2019/20 season, when the U’s reached the Sky Bet League One play-off final.

Seventh-placed United host Gillingham tomorrow and have an outside chance of finishing in the top six again, but their top scorer admits it has been a strange season.

The verdict: Oxford United's win over Shrewsbury was twice as impressive as Crewe

Taylor said: “At times it has been a bit of a lonely furrow.

“You’re battling away for scraps and half-chances here and there, when last season it felt more free-flowing.

“You knew a chance was coming in five minutes.

“This time I’ve got to the end of some games and one hasn’t even come my way.

“That’s just the life of a striker and you’ve got to take them when they do fall your way.

“It has been frustrating at times, but I’ve seen signs in the last weeks and months that we’re clicking a bit better.

“There seems to be a bit more cohesion lately, so I’ll still be making runs and hopefully I’ll get a few more before the end of the season.”

The 31-year-old went through a 14-game goal drought before scoring twice in last month’s 3-0 win over Doncaster Rovers.

Taylor struck the winner against Lincoln City ten days later, while the Shrewsbury game was on a knife-edge before he made it 3-1 midway through the second half.

He was relieved to score, having been thwarted one-on-one by goalkeeper Matija Sarkic only three minutes earlier.

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But just as pleasing was seeing James Henry claim the assist, as the pair reignited a partnership that proved fruitful last season.

It was the first time they have combined like that since the 4-1 win at Accrington Stanley in September and Taylor feels his teammate is back to his best.

“I think I said ‘thank you’ (after the goal), because I was frustrated at the one before,” he said.

“He has looked as good as ever in the last few games.

“He’s the driving force in this team and whenever he plays well, we play well.

“He’s probably got me half my goals since I’ve been here, so I need him playing well.”