February was a month of draws for the U's, with four of the six games ending all square.
The month started with the visit of Reading to the Kassam Stadium for the first-ever league meeting between the sides at the venue. It started well for United and, as they had in the away game, it was Oxford that took a first-half lead when Cameron Brannagan's cross was steered home by Mark Harris in the 33rd minute. The Yellows were on top throughout the second half without being able to find another goal and, with 13 minutes remaining, Kelvin Ehibatiomhan crossed and the helpless Ciaron Brown - goalscoring hero at Reading - could only direct the ball into his own net. Reading gained a point without mustering a shot on target, although it was pleasing to see deadline-day arrivals Owen Dale and Jay Matete making their debuts.
Oh we do like to be beside the seaside, although it was a close call when Oxford visited play-off rivals Blackpool. In the end, United secured their third successive draw, with Matt Pennington opening the scoring for the home side in the 18th minute from a corner. Blackpool fans were still celebrating when the U's secured a corner of their own three minutes later. Brannagan was unmoved by the abuse from the home fans as he walked over to take it, finding Sam Long, whose downward header was turned home by Harris. Both sides had chances to win the game, with United's attacking intent shown by a debut from the bench for Will Goodwin. In the end, a point on the road is always welcome.
United's unbeaten run was extended to four games with the visit of Wigan Athletic on a Tuesday night. Oxford had all the early play but Wigan came back into it and scored through Gethin Jones five minutes before the break. Deep into first-half stoppage time the U's equalised when Josh Murphy fired past Sam Tickle from the edge of the area for his first league goal for the club. Ten minutes into the second half United took the lead when Sam Long found Brannagan on the edge of the box and his shot deflected past Tickle. With quarter of an hour remaining Oxford extended their lead. Tyler Goodhram skipped past a defender and hit the post with his shot. Ruben Rodrigues followed up and made no mistake from the rebound to make it 3-1. Thelo Aasgaard kept the Yellows on their toes when he pulled a goal back five minutes later and after a nervy few minutes Harris had a shot blocked but Goodrham was on hand to fire home the rebound and make it 4-2 to United.
Next up, a trip to Wycombe Wanderers ended goalless before Northampton Town came to town. Murphy opened the scoring after just six minutes, rifling the ball past Louis Moulden, but the Cobblers were level before the break when Will Hondermarck headed home from Marc Leonard's cross. Oxford looked to have turned the game with a triple substitution, with two of the new men combining to put United back into the lead. Dale was the provider and Goodwin the scorer with a fine header to open his U's account. However, just as they had done at Sixfields before Christmas, Northampton scored a stoppage-time goal to deny points for United, this time Tony Springett doing the damage.
Oxford's six-game unbeaten run came to an end in the final game of the shortest month. The U's took the lead against Leyton Orient 20 minutes in when Goodrham's flick found the net. Orient refused to lie down, though, and six minutes into the second half Ollie O'Neill found the equaliser. With 13 minutes remaining George Moncur fired home to leave United in sixth place but having played more games than their promotion rivals.