Match ends, Oxford United 1, Stevenage 1.
Oxford UtdOxford United1StevenageStevenage1
Oxford United squandered a great opportunity to strengthen their bid to reach the play-offs when they could only manage a draw at home to Stevenage.
It leaves them in sixth place in League One, three points ahead of Lincoln, who have a game in hand and superior goal difference.
Stevenage, who lost manager Steve Evans to Rotherham this week, held out for a point despite not having a shot on target - they scored through an own goal - and being under constant pressure.
Stevenage took the lead against the run of play in the 32nd minute when defender Sam Long, pressured by Kane Hemmings behind him, turned Nick Freeman's left-wing cross into his own net.
The U's felt they should have had a penalty when Ruben Rodrigues threaded a pass through to Marcus Browne, who looked to be fouled by goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray in a race to reach the ball.
But referee Tom Nield ignored Oxford's appeals for a spot-kick.
They were awarded one in the 58th minute, though, when Carl Piergianni brought down Rodrigues on the edge of the box after the Portuguese forward got goalside of him. Cameron Brannagan converted.
The home side dominated the first half, with MacGillivray saving Rodrigues's fierce drive, Long glancing a header just wide at a corner, and Mark Harris nodding wide from a good position.
The second half saw much of the same, MacGillivray saving from Finn Stevens and from Josh Murphy when he raced through.
Stevenage nearly won it late on as Long cleared off the line and then a shot was deflected off a defender and against a post.
Report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Oxford Utd
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Cumming
- 15Stevens
- 2Long
- 3Brown
- 22Leigh
- 8Brannagan
- 11BrowneSubstituted forDaleat 64'minutes
- 20RodriguesSubstituted forBodinat 72'minutes
- 19GoodrhamSubstituted forHenryat 72'minutes
- 23Murphy
- 9M Harris
Substitutes
- 4Thorniley
- 10Bodin
- 12Bennett
- 13Eastwood
- 14Smyth
- 17Henry
- 30Dale
Stevenage
Formation 4-4-2
- 12MacGillivray
- 14SmithBooked at 88mins
- 15VancootenBooked at 10mins
- 5Piergianni
- 22Guinness-WalkerBooked at 71mins
- 10FreemanSubstituted forListat 80'minutes
- 23Thompson
- 18WhiteSubstituted forThompsonat 90+2'minutes
- 11RobertsSubstituted forSweeneyat 90+2'minutes
- 19ReidSubstituted forThompsonat 60'minutes
- 29Hemmings
Substitutes
- 4Thompson
- 6Sweeney
- 9List
- 20Pressley
- 24Thompson
- 41Mitchell
- 44Evans
- Referee:
- Tom Nield
- Attendance:
- 9,174
Match Stats
Home TeamOxford UtdAway TeamStevenage
- Possession
- Home65%
- Away35%
- Shots
- Home25
- Away2
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away0
- Corners
- Home8
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away17
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Oxford United 1, Stevenage 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Greg Leigh (Oxford United) header from the right side of the six yard box misses to the right. Assisted by Josh Murphy with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Kane Smith.
Post update
Attempt missed. Mark Harris (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Josh Murphy with a cross.
Post update
Attempt missed. Josh Murphy (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Owen Dale.
Substitution
Substitution, Stevenage. Dan Sweeney replaces Jordan Roberts.
Substitution
Substitution, Stevenage. Nathan Thompson replaces Harvey White because of an injury.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Harvey White (Stevenage).
Booking
Kane Smith (Stevenage) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Josh Murphy (Oxford United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Kane Smith (Stevenage).
Post update
Sam Long (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Kane Hemmings (Stevenage).
Post update
Attempt missed. Mark Harris (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Finley Stevens with a cross.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ciaron Brown (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Owen Dale.
Post update
Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Nesta Guinness-Walker.
Post update
Corner, Stevenage. Conceded by Owen Dale.
Post update
Corner, Stevenage. Conceded by Cameron Brannagan.
Comments
Join the conversation
Surprised they took Rodriguez off as he looked the most creative and being an ex-notts county lad I've seen him pop up with late goals many a time.
Ref😲
That was never a penalty as it was a yard outside the box,but it made up for the one that was a definite pen in the 1st half,but the ref bottled it.
Steve Evans is history ⚽
A rookie...most other manager's would have been sacked by now,but as the owners paid £1m to have him released they are keeping him .I can smell it with this manager...no good....I have seen them back to and including Arthur Turner.
Wether the referee had a clear view or not , McGillivray obviously fouled the Oxford player !
The non assisting "assistant " had a clear view of the incident and declined to get involved.
The penalty awarded against Piergianni was very soft and definitely outside the area. An enhanced dive by RR to convince the referee !
Thanks to live TV it ruined the last home game of the regular season
Poor night for the officials .
Squeaky bum time indeed