Oxford United 1-1 Stevenage: Oxford’s play-off hopes dented

Oxford United squandered an ideal alternative to strengthen their bid to succeed in the play-offs once they might solely handle a draw at residence to Stevenage.

Stevenage, who misplaced supervisor Steve Evans to Rotherham this week, held out for a degree regardless of not having a shot on track – they scored by means of an personal purpose – and being below fixed strain.

Stevenage took the lead towards the run of play within the thirty second minute when defender Sam Lengthy, pressured by Kane Hemmings behind him, turned Nick Freeman’s left-wing cross into his personal internet.

The U’s felt they need to have had a penalty when Ruben Rodrigues threaded a go by means of to Marcus Browne, who fouled by goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray in a race to succeed in the ball.

However referee Tom Nield ignored Oxford’s appeals for a spot-kick.

They had been awarded one within the 58th minute, although, when Carl Piergianni introduced down Rodrigues on the sting of the field after the Portuguese ahead bought goalside of him. Cameron Brannagan transformed.

The house aspect dominated the primary half, with MacGillivray saving Rodrigues’s fierce drive, Lengthy glancing a header simply huge at a nook, and Mark Harris nodding huge from a very good place.

The second half noticed a lot of the identical, MacGillivray saving from Finn Stevens and from Josh Murphy when he raced by means of.

Stevenage almost received it late on as Lengthy cleared off the road after which a shot was deflected off a defender and towards a submit.

Report equipped by PA Media.