TEAM NEWS: BREWERS boss Paul Peschisolido named an unchanged side for the trip to the Kassam Stadium following the previous week’s 2-1 home victory over Plymouth Argyle.
The only change came on the bench with striker Billy Kee, having returned from international duty and recovered from concussion, replacing centre-back Darren Moore, who was sent off – along with fellow defender Tom Parkes – in the corresponding fixture las season, which Albion lost 3-0.
US (4-3-3): Clarke; Whing, Duberry, Wright (capt), Davis; Heslop, McLaren, Leven; Potter, Constable, Guy; subs: Batt, Pitman, Hall, Payne, Worley.
BREWERS (4-4-2): Atkins; Corbett, James, Austin, Webster; Maghoma, Bolder, McGrath (capt), Phillips; Zola, Richards; subs: Poole (gk), Yussuf, Palmer, Kee, Blanchett.
HALF-TIME: The Brewers could have gone in front after just 30 seconds when left-back Aaron Webster’s long throw-in down the left touchline was flicked on by striker Justin Richards.
It fell to winger Jimmy Phillips, who flicked it past a defender, but his shot across goal from the left channel inside the penalty area was wide of the far post.
However, the hosts were soon enjoying the majority of possession and almost broke the deadlock on 12 minutes.
Alfie Potter crossed from the right and fellow striker Lewis Guy had time eight yards out to chest the ball down, but Brewers goalkeeper Ross Atkins did superbly well to race off his line and block the effort.
Phillips had another sight of goal on 21 minutes, but his instant 25-yard effort flew wide of the target.
Back came the Us and when a quick free-kick was played back to midfielder Peter Leven, he lifted a ball into the area.
It dropped for striker James Constable, whose shot beat Atkins but was cleared off the line by midfielder Adam Bolder.
Seconds after Albion had a penalty appeal turned down as striker Calvin Zola seemed to be pushed over from behind by central defender Jake Wright, Oxford almost took the lead at the other end.
A long throw released Potter in the area and he flicked the ball over from the left to Constable, whose looping header landed on the roof of the net.
The hosts were inches away from taking the lead in the 44th minute when Potter’s cross from the right by-line struck Brewers right-back Andy Corbett and smacked against the post before bouncing out to safety.
The Us did claim a deserved half-time lead in the second minute of stoppage time.
After a foul by Albion skipper John McGrath, the free-kick was played into the box and it fell to Potter inside the area in the right channel and his shot across goal found the far corner of the net.
OXFORD UNITED 1, BURTON ALBION 0
FULL TIME: After a rather disjointed start to the second half, the hosts went close on 50 minutes when left-back Liam Davis let fly from 25 yards, with Atkins only able to beat his swerving effort away.
However, it was 2-0 two minutes later as Guy played a superb first-time diagonal ball into the path of Leven inside the area in the left channel and he lifted the ball over Atkins and into the net.
But the Brewers were given a lifeline less than 60 seconds later when midfielder Jacques Maghoma went down in the area under pressure from right and, to the dismay of the home fans, the referee pointed to the spot.
Richards stepped up and calmly sent keeper Ryan Clarke the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Peschisolido made his first change on 59 minutes, with Kee replacing Zola.
It was almost 3-1 seconds later when midfielder Paul McLaren’s free-kick found centre-back Michael Duberry, but his volley was just too high.
However, it was 2-2 on 66 minutes as McGrath’s corner from the right dropped to Richards at the far post and his shot found the back of the net via a deflection.
Richards could have been celebrating a hat-trick two minutes later when Kee benefited from a stray Oxford pass.
He found his striker partner, but Richards perhaps took too long and fired wide under pressure.
The Brewers almost went 3-2 up on 75 minutes when Maghoma’s ball towards Richards was intercepted by first-half substitute Damian Batt, forcing Clarke into a reflex save.
The ball fell to Richards 10 yards out but his effort was blocked by the keeper.
Richards was substituted eight minutes from time, replaced by Adi Yussuf.
It should have been 3-2 to the hosts on 86 minutes when Davis sent a cross over to the far post where Constable and Duberry were both waiting, but the former inexplicably headed over from all of three yards out.
OXFORD UNITED 2, BURTON ALBION 2
