Derby County forward Nathaniel Mendez-Laing celebrates his first league goal of the season away at Oxford United
A second-half Nathaniel Mendez-Laing goal earned Derby County a point away at Oxford United in the Championship.
Dane Scarlett opened the scoring for the hosts after 12 minutes, side-footing the ball into the net in his first league start for the U’s.
The Rams came out for the second half with a fresh intensity, forcing an equaliser ten minutes after the break through Mendez-Laing's right-foot finish.
The U's impressive unbeaten run at the Kassam Stadium continues while Derby remain winless on the road this league campaign.
All three stands of the Kassam Stadium rose to loudly welcome the teams on to the pitch on a crisp and chilled Tuesday night.
Both sides won promotion from League One last campaign, Derby automatically and the U's through the play-offs.
After his impressive late winner at the weekend, U’s forward Dane Scarlett came straight into the starting eleven with Mark Harris dropping to the bench.
That decision was justified for Des Buckingham straight away as the Tottenham Hotspur loanee opened the scoring in the 12th minute, finishing off a flowing team move.
Siriki Dembele spotted the bursting run of Idris El Mizouni, who he played through into the box, and the midfielder provided a low cross to the feet of Dane Scarlett who slotted home, striking across his body first time.
It was Scarlett’s second goal of the season in his first league start for the U’s, this his third loan spell away from his parent club Spurs after stints with Portsmouth and Ipswich Town.
Derby put pressure on the Oxford defence after going behind but never really threatened to equalise, the U’s going into the break a goal ahead.
The visitors started the second half brightly, Corey Blackett-Taylor utilising his pace down the left-hand side and pulling the ball back to Kenzo Goudmijn in space, but the Dutchman's goal-bound effort was blocked behind for a corner.
The Rams pressure then paid off when they equalised after the U's had failed to clear the ball.
The ball was poked across the box to the waiting Mendez-Laing who drilled a shot with his right foot into the bottom-left hand corner of the net for the forward's first goal of the season.
However, neither side provided a strong enough case to walk away with all three points.
The result leaves the home side in tenth, having drawn each of their past five league games.
Paul Warne's Rams remain level on points with the U's but are two places below in 12th on goal difference.
Buckingham leaves match early feeling 'unwell'
Oxford United assistant manager Craig Short speaking to BBC Radio Oxford:
"Des started to feel unwell with about half an hour to go, the club doctor’s been checking him over and he’s still not right so we got him to leave the stadium and get himself home as quickly as possible.
"I thought we played some excellent football. In the first half today we looked very controlled, but the last half hour became a bit of a fight game and a bit more chaotic.
"There were some good performances and the positive side is we go into November with an unbeaten home record, we want to start picking up wins though going forward and that is definitely the goal."
Derby County Boss Paul Warne speaking to BBC Radio Derby:
“We were significantly better in the second half and we could have won it.
“I’m hugely frustrated to leave here with a draw, we came here wanting to win and we could have, we can’t let 45 minutes pass us like we did in the first half again.
“We made attacking changes and tried to go for the win but it wasn’t to be. I thought there was a real lack of effort, running and everything to be honest in the first half, it was horrific and we have to be better at the basics.
“No games are easy and no one has come here and beat Oxford so I guess it’s a tick in the box in terms of picking up a point. I’m just frustrated though.”
