Oxford United draw with Stevenage in League One
Brannagan penalty earns Oxford point
Long own goal had given Stevenage lead
Oxford's chances of making play-offs dented
Stevenage out of top-six race
Oxford 1-1 Stevenage
This game is being played at 100mph midway through the second half. A good advert for the division, this. If anything this is the most intense period of the entire match with aggressive pressing and challenges flying in from both sides.
Oxford 1-1 Stevenage
Dean Thompson
BBC Three Counties Radio commentator
Stevenage have looked lively in the last few minutes, it's just been that final ball. They are committing more forward. Since the goal, it's been a bit more even.
Oxford 1-1 Stevenage
Marcus Browne is withdrawn after his first Oxford start since August. He's made a difference in this game too. Owen Dale is on for the final half-hour or so.
Oxford 1-1 Stevenage
Josh Murphy.. again... pulls the ball back from the right towards the penalty spot but Ruben Rodrigues, a man oozing class, shows none of it as he leans back and smashes well over the bar. Should have done much better.
Oxford 1-1 Stevenage
Carl Piergianni makes a vital interception as Josh Murphy tries to whip a low cross into the middle for an unmarked Mark Harris after a blockbuster diagonal ball from Greg Leigh.
Whatever Des Buckingham said in that dressing room has made a real difference in the opening 15 minutes of the second half.
Oxford 1-1 Stevenage
Jamie Reid is withdrawn by Alex Revell with Ben Thompson coming on. The top-scorer has not had much of a sniff tonight.
Oxford 1-1 Stevenage
Steve Watkins
Commentator on BBC Three Counties Radio
I have to say of the three shouts for penalty, that's the least convincing. Ruben Rodrigues went down very easily.
Things even themselves out.
Cameron Brannagan pen
Image source, Rex FeaturesAll square.
Cameron Brannagan slots the penalty coolly into the bottom right corner with the keeper going the wrong way.
That's the skipper's 11th League One goal of the season.
He grabs the ball out of the net and sprints back to halfway... you know what that signals!
Oxford 0-1 Stevenage
Carl Piergianni brings down Ruben Rodrigues right on the edge of the area. Penalty given!
It looked as though the foul happened just outside the box and then Rodrigues tumbled inside.
But Oxford now have the chance to level...
Oxford 0-1 Stevenage
More champagne stuff from the hosts, Ruben Rodrigues backheels into space for the busy Tyler Goodrham to fire in a curling effort from 20 yards, but that man Carl Piergianni, a captain's captain, is there to block.
Oxford 0-1 Stevenage
For the first time tonight Greg Leigh drives forward from midfield, prods the ball in to Mark Harris who then pokes into the path of Ruben Rodrigues whose low shot is too close to Craig MacGillivray who is able to gather.
Some lovely approach play from the hosts though. A real clash of styles tonight, but it's Boro who are winning.
Oxford 0-1 Stevenage
Image source, Rex FeaturesOxford have flown out of the blocks...
A Josh Murphy cross from the right caused havoc, then there was a penalty shout for handball against Carl Piergianni after a flick from Marcus Browne, seen them given, and finally Finley Stevens sees a shot saved from the follow-up.
Blistering stuff. It does remain 0-1, however...
Oxford 0-1 Stevenage
Alex Revell and Des Buckingham will have had very different half-time experiences, you'd imagine...
Time to find out what the break has done...
Off we go again.
HT: Oxford 0-1 Stevenage
Oxford United need to get something out of this game or they could find themselves outside of the play-offs by the time Saturday's fixtures are done.
Stevenage are still just about alive in a hunt for a top-six spot, but they'll need a lot of things to go their way. And a big, big goal swing.
HT: Oxford 0-1 Stevenage
Whatever happens in this second half Oxford eyes will be very much on the games involving Blackpool, Barnsley and Lincoln tomorrow afternoon.
HT: Oxford 0-1 Stevenage
It's one of those quirky stats where Stevenage haven't had a shot on goal, let alone on target, yet they lead at the break.
Oxford 0-1 Stevenage
Image source, Rex FeaturesPhew. Breathless finish to the half.
Oxford will feel mightily aggrieved that Marcus Browne was not given a penalty after being clattered by keeper Craig MacGillivray, and to make matters worse Sam Long diverted a cross into his own net to give Boro the lead shortly after.
McGillivray made a fine save to deny Cameron Brannagan an equaliser and then Browne fired wide when it seemed easier to score.
Des Buckingham has a big 15 minutes to come.
Oxford 0-1 Stevenage
Josh Murphy, who is everywhere in the last 10 minutes, is bundled over by Jordan Roberts a few yards outside the box, to the left of goal.
Cameron Brannagan whips in a low curling shot past the edge of the wall and somehow Craig MacGillivray gets down to tip the ball around the post.
The corner is swung in towards the unmarked Marcus Browne but he can only steer wide of the upright from eight yards.
What a let-off.
#bbcefl
Peter Humfrey: Would be typical us if we beat Oxford after the bad run we've had. Game on
Oxford 0-1 Stevenage
Boro keeper Craig MacGillivray has to come out of his area to nod away a bouncing ball which had threatened to send Josh Murphy through on goal.
Alert keeping.
Stevenage are warned to get on with things for the first time tonight, 42 minutes gone...