Match Report: League One – Oxford United 3-3 Coventry City

Oxford United came from two goals down for the second time in a week as Karl Robinson’s side eventually drew 3-3 against Coventry City.

Zain Westbrooke gave the visitors a first-half lead before Matty Godden doubled the Sky Blues advantage after the break. Jamie Mackie reduced the deficit before a Fankaty Dabo own goal levelled the match.

But, Callum O’Hare thought he’d found a winner when he regained Coventry’s lead in stoppage time before a second own goal from Dabo eventually earned the U’s a point.

Karl Robinson made seven changes from the side that progressed to the third round of the Carabao Cup. Simon Eastwood remained in goal, while Josh Ruffels and Chris Cadden returned as the full-backs. Rob Dickie returned at the back alongside Elliott Moore.

Despite injury concerns, both Cameron Brannagan and Alex Rodriguez Gorrin returned in midfield, with Anthony Forde and James Henry on the wings. Ben Woodburn played behind Mackie, who led the line.

The U’s started brightly, and the positive link-up play between Henry and Cadden down the right almost produced the opener but Mackie was unable to turn home the formers’ cross.

The hosts’ best chance came midway through the first half. Woodburn saw a cross met by Forde but his header was tipped over by Marko Marosi.

Oxford were the dominant side but, as seen already seen this season, they failed to make their chances count, and soon fell behind.

Gorrin fouled Liam Kelly outside the box, and Westbrooke struck home a sensational free-kick to beat Eastwood in what was the visitors’ first effort on goal.

Mark Robins’ side could have doubled their lead before the break, but Jordan Shipley’s effort was straight at Eastwood.

The U’s started the second-half the way they began the first, but again, the visitors were to find the net. It came from an Oxford corner in which Woodburn struck the post before the Sky Blues launched a counter-attack and Dabo’s cross was turned home by Godden.

Tariqe Fosu and Shandon Baptiste came on for the U’s, and within minutes, Baptiste dummied a Dickie pass to Mackie who curled home his first goal of the season from 20 yards.

The U’s were forcing corners, and by the time they reached double figures, they looked like they were closing in on an equaliser. Brannagan’s delivery found Gorrin who was expertly denied by Marosi.

But the pressure was there and, five minutes from time, the U’s found a deserved leveller. Cadden’s cross was turned into his own net by Dabo, and the home fans sensed a winner.

But, against the run of play, midfielder O’Hare forced Eastwood into a save. Then, in stoppage time, the on-loan Aston Villa man beat Eastwood for what looked like the winner in an enthralling match.

But Oxford, who scored a 94th-minute equaliser as they beat Millwall in the second round of the Carabao Cup, did the same again. Fosu’s cross was turned in to send the home fans into raptures and, despite the goal being awarded to Moore, It was later given as a second own goal for Dabo.