A spectacular strike from Oxford United's homegrown winger Tyler Goodrham was enough to earn the U's a vital point at home to in-form Millwall in this afternoon's lunchtime kick-off. The Lions had taken the lead on the stroke of half time when Japhet Tanganga headed home from a corner, but this Oxford side is made of stern stuff and they showed their metal in the second half.
Des Buckingham made two changes to Tuesday's side, with Elliott Moore returning from his one-game suspension to take his place in the centre of defence in place of Hidde ter Avest, with Sam Long moving across to right-back, and Matt Phillips coming into the side to replace Rúben Rodrigues.
Oxford started brightly and fashioned their first chance in the third minute after a foul on Dane Scarlett that resulted in Shaun Hutchinson receiving the game's first yellow card. Man of the Match Goodrham floated the ball into the area and Ciaron Brown rose highest but couldn't direct his header on target.
A United break in the 18th minute got the fans off their feet as Goodrham took the ball past two defenders, but his shot from range was well saved by Lukas Jensen.
Mostly, however, United were content to let Millwall have the ball and build a defensive line in front of them. On the few occasions that line was breached, the back four held firm, with Long and Moore making decisive last-gasp interventions to keep the goal intact.
The opening goal came in the last minute of the first half and it came, uncharacteristically for United, from a set piece. Joe Bryan floated a corner to the back post where Tanganga rose unchallenged to head home.
United were more positive in the second period, when it was the visitors' turn to get players behind the ball to defend their lead.
Despite this, Oxford struggled to break down the Millwall defence, with the visitors showing no inclination to increase their lead. That was until Goodrham stepped up, took a step to his left, and sent an unstoppable shot into the top corner that left Jensen helpless. It was a goal that United's second half showing deserved and from that moment the momentum was with the U's.
The point was enough to stop Oxford's run of three successive defeats and gives them good heart going into next Saturday's game at Plymouth. See you there.
UNITED: Cumming, Long, Brown, Vaulks (El Mizouni 46), Moore, Płacheta (Rodrigues 61), Brannagan, Phillips (Dale 73), Goodrham, Leigh (Goodwin 83), Scarlett (Harris 61)
Unused subs: Ingram, McEachran, ter Avest, Thorniley
Attendance: 10,990 (including 1,487 away)
Fifty/50 draw: Ticket 17221 wins £1,267
Report: Martin Brodetsky; Photography: JasonPix, Steve Daniels, Steve Edmunds, Darrell Fisher
