Oxford United scored a stoppage-time equaliser to earn a share of the spoils against MK Dons. Andrew Surman gave the hosts a first-half lead but Elliot Lee nodded home in the 97th minute to earn the U’s a point.
Here’s the #oufc starting XI at MK Dons: pic.twitter.com/CmAmm09LVO
— Oxford Mail OUFC (@OxfordMailOUFC) February 27, 2021
Karl Robinson made three changes from Tuesday night’s defeat against Portsmouth with Alex Rodriguez Gorrin, Brandon Barker and Matty Taylor coming in for James Henry, Mark Sykes and Sam Winnall, with a slight change in formation.
The back five remained the same with Jack Stevens, who was making his first appearance since signing a new contract, Josh Ruffels, Rob Atkinson, Elliott Moore and Sam Long.
Gorrin was partnered with Cameron Brannagan while Lee played as a number ten behind Taylor, with Barker and Mide Shodipo as the wide men.
Oxford’s bright start forced the hosts into a couple of early mistakes, but neither Taylor nor Shodipo could take advantage.
The early missed chances proved costly when, on 15 minutes, the Dons took the lead. The hosts played themselves out of trouble cleverly before the ball came to Manchester United loanee Ethan Laird on the right. He cut inside and played it into Surman who beat Stevens from 20 yards.
Moments later, the goalscorer could have added a second but Brannagan blocked his effort after Atkinson lost the ball.
Oxford looked bright when counter-attacking but lacked an end product. Lee volleyed at goalkeeper Andrew Fisher while Surman and Scott Fraser were also presented with opportunities at the other end.
Barker came close for the U’s before the break but Harry Darling put in a superb tackle.
The hosts began the second half as the stronger side, but Oxford had the better chances. Firstly, Taylor struck the side netting before the striker pressured the goalkeeper but saw his effort loop over.
Both sides rang the changes. Will Grigg, Cameron Jerome and Jordan Houghton came on for the hosts while Robinson changed his front three with Sam Winnall, James Henry and Dan Agyei being introduced.
Jerome’s first involvement brought a brilliant tackle from Gorrin with the striker through while Agyei struck an effort just wide of the post.
Unfortunately for the U’s, Winnall then picked up a knock and was replaced by Mark Sykes. Moments later, as the 90-minute mark approached, Agyei was put through on goal by a short back-pass and Fisher brought him down outside the box, but the officials issued the goalkeeper a yellow card.
Fisher then denied Agyei’s header before Anthony Forde struck the post.
It felt like a repeat of Portsmouth with all of the Oxford chances coming late on, but unlike Tuesday night, Oxford netted a deserved leveller. Forde’s deep cross found Agyei who headed it back across goal towards Lee to nod home.
It was a deserved point for both sides but the U’s haven’t won in four. Oxford drop one place to ninth in League One but are now four points off the playoffs.
