James Constable consigned the Dons to defeat tonight as the league leaders tightened their grip on top spot.

Days after beating Luton Town they couldn’t repeat the trick at the Kassam Stadium.

The ten men of Wimbledon, a player short after substitute Jay Conroy was given his marching orders with less than an hour gone, battled well but succumbed to Chris Wilder’s impressive outfit.

Terry Brown’s team were somewhat flattered by the scoreline in truth, Constable’s 19th and 20th goals of the season sealing the points in a one-sided match.

Manager Brown said: “The best side won, I’ve got no complaints about that.

“I thought first half we got it down and played alright, without having too much of a threat. Danny had a few good chances but the difference between the two sides was the ability of their front two to hold the ball up.

“We didn’t cope with Constable or Green to be honest. They had a lot of chances and we didn’t create anywhere near enough.”

On the red card, Brown said: “It’s a matter of if he (Sam Deering) has touched the ball or not. I won’t know until I have seen it back.”

Early on when James Pullen flapped at Deering’s corner, Rhys Day should have buried the chance.

The keeper, though, was the hero five minutes later. Deering was electric down the right and Constable was picked out on the penalty spot. The predator hit the shot well but Pullen was equal to it, saving fantastically with his legs.

Wimbledon then had a great chance. With the leaders stretched, Will Hendry took his time before passing to Kedwell. The match winner from Saturday took a bad touch and the chance went begging.

But at the other end the Oxford forwards were still menacing. It was no surprise when Constable, on 14 minutes, lashed his shot into the bottom left hand corner of Pullen’s net.

The hesitant visitors’ defence were in a complete mess. Deering’s free-kick almost crept in with both keeper and backline refusing to take responsibility moments after the opener.

With half time looming the Dons nearly got themselves level. Substitute Conroy crossed, Kedwell went for the ball but it struck an Oxford defender, hitting the crossbar.

The second half started with Oxford again on the attack. Deering hit the post from a quick low free-kick as Wimbledon’s wall went missing.

Oxford should have been home and hosed ten minutes after the re-start. Constable’s shot was well saved by Pullen and Matt Green made a hash of the simple follow-up.

Green, somehow not given offside, nearly made amends a minutes after but, this time going for height, blazed over.

Wimbledon’s task became somewhat greater when Conroy was red carded after Deering left the defender for dead. The professional foul was the right decision and from the resulting free-kick Simon Clist again found Pullen in tip top form.

Oxford went quiet before springing to life to settle the game.

Pullen this time beaten at the near post by the power of Constable’s shot. Job done for the Blue Square Premier pacesetters with ten minutes to go.