Four goals helped the Town bounce back to form with a fine festive win over Wycombe Wanderers at Kenilworth Road.

Gideon Kodua scored a first half brace against his former club and the Hatters’ biggest victory of the Jack Wilshere era was complete with goals from captain Jordan Clark and substitute Shayden Morris after the break.

It was no more than the Town deserved for an excellent display – although they were helped thanks to some yuletide generosity from the visitors for three of the goals.

But the Hatters cared not to moved to within three points of the play-offs and banish the disappointment from the defeat at Reading.

Wilshere made one enforced change to the side that lost last week with Kal Naismith, who came off at the Madejski Stadium with a calf injury, replaced by Joe Johnson in defence.

And the Town wasted no time in racing into an early lead. Liam Walsh, who was excellent throughout, threaded a perfect ball into midfield to Lamine Fanne. He in turn fed Kodua on the right and the winger’s drilled finish went under the body of Will Norris in the Wanderers’ goal.

Kodua was full of confidence, and the Town almost added a quickfire second when the goalscorer crossed for Cohen Bramall only for his header to drop just wide.

Wycombe, who came into the game just one point below the Hatters in the table, tested Josh Keeley for the first time on 12 minutes when the goalkeeper beat away an effort from Sam Bell, but it was a rare foray forward by the visitors as the Town dominated.

Norris made up his error on 29 minutes to prevent the Hatters from doubling their lead to prevent Nahki Well’s well-hit low drive from finding the corner and three minutes later the Town were even closer to extending the lead when Fanne’s low was cleared off the line.

Chances continued to fall for the Town with Kodua and an acrobatic effort from Clark close making it 2-0 before eventually the elusive second did come a minute before half-time.

This one owed even more to a mix-up in the Wycombe defence as there appeared no danger when Anders Hagelskjaer took control of the ball on the edge of his own box. However, the defender’s attempted pass back to Norris instead found Kodua and the winger was able to stroke home into an unguarded net – it was his seventh goal of the season.

Wycombe rallied at the start of the second half in a bid to get back into the game but failed to seriously test Keeley before Wilshere brought on Jerry Yates and George Saville for the final quarter. And the change almost had an immediate effect as Clark made it 3-0 on 70 minutes.

Kodua this time turned provider, hanging up a ball from the right. Yates pinned Norris and the ball bounced off Jack Grimmer into the path of Clark and the captain smashed home from 12 yards for his fifth of the season.

Another double change for the Town had the same desired effect moments later. Morris and Hakeem Odoffin replaced Bramall and Teden Mengi and minutes after their introduction it was four. Wycombe substitute Taylor Allen dallied on ball, allowing Morris to rob the defender, race through on goal and finish well from six yards.

Wycombe almost snuck a consolation when Grimmer headed straight at Keeley with the goal at his mercy before Kodua, on a mission to complete his hat-trick, belted an effort just wide with the final chance.

The Town will aim for more of the same against Orient on Monday night. See you then.

Happy Christmas. UTT.

Town: Keeley, Lonwijk, Johnson, Mengi, Andersen, Walsh, Fanne, Kodua, Clark, Bramall, Wells.

Subs: Shea, Yates, Morris, Odoffin, Brown, Saville, Nelson.

Attendance: 11,596, including 1,092 from Wycombe.