Oxford United played out their fifth consecutive draw this evening as they were pegged back by Derby County. The U's took the lead - the first time in this run that they've done that - with Dane Scarlett's second goal in two games after just 12 minutes, but a Nathaniel Mendez-Laing effort ten minutes into the second half meant both sides had to settle for a point.
Des Buckingham made just one change to the side that drew with West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, with Scarlett rewarded for his late goal in that game with a place in the starting XI, Mark Harris dropping to the bench.
United started the game on the front foot, with Siriki Dembélé having the first effort after just a minute, albeit well over. The first few minutes were all Oxford and they got their reward in the 12th minute with a great move and finish. Dembélé played in Idris El Mizouni on the overlap and his pull back found Scarlett, whose finish under pressure was perfectly executed in off the post, out of the reach of despairing goalkeeper Jacob Zetterström.
The Rams response was almost immediate, with Mendez-Laing having a shot blocked and from the rebound Kane Wilson's drive was palmed aside by Jamie Cumming, but they were unable to breach the U's back line and Oxford were largely in control.
Indeed, United came close to doubling the lead just after the half hour when Tyler Goodrham brilliantly controlled a long sweeping pass from Ben Nelson, his first touch taking him past Callum Elder as though the left back wasn't there. He then strode towards the area and hit a cross/shot that skimmed the far post on its way past. A few minutes later, Goodrham hit another shot from a similar area with a similar outcome.
Derby started the second period determined to get back on terms, which they achieved ten minutes after the restart. It came from a defensive error as Oxford failed to deal with a fairly routine cross and the loose ball fell to Mendez-Laing, who buried his shot into the bottom corner.
The visitors looked to use their momentum to try to take the lead, but some profligate finishing and stoic defending kept them out, and gradually Oxford grew back into the game. The last 20 minutes mostly belonged to the Yellows, without them creating any clear-cut opportunities. Goodrham tried one of his trademark shots as the game entered stoppage time, cutting inside from the left, but this time his effort lacked direction and drifted wide.
The draw was frustrating for a United side that had taken the lead but the game became scrappy and the usual flowing football only occurred in patches. However, a point is better than nothing and it gives the U's something to build on as they head to Sunderland on Saturday.
UNITED: Cumming, Brown, Vaulks (McEachran 67), Moore, El Mizouni (Sibley 67), Nelson, Goodrham, Rodrigues (Leigh 85), Dembélé (Dale 46), Kioso, Scarlett (Harris 61)
Unused subs: Ingram, Long, Ebiowei, ter Avest
Attendance: 11,423 including 1,481 away fans
Fifty/50 draw: Ticket number 06279 wins £1,299
Report: Martin Brodetsky; Photos: JasonPix, Steve Edmunds, Steve Daniels, Darrell Fisher
