Summary

  • 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

  1. CLOSE!published at 40 mins

    Oxford 0-1 Stevenage

    Josh Murphy drifts in from the right and stands up a cross to the far-post where Mark Harris has backed away, but the 18-goal striker can only divert his header down but the wrong side of the upright from an Oxford perspective.

  2. Postpublished at 38 mins

    Oxford 0-1 Stevenage

    Josh Murphy, twin brother of Newcastle's Jacob, tries his luck with a blast from an angle, at least 25 yards out, but finds that car park I mentioned a little earlier.

    The Us, for all their class on the ball, look a little ragged at present and giving Stevenage a one-goal lead is not something which has worked out too well for a lot of teams over the past couple of seasons.

  3. Postpublished at 36 mins

    Oxford 0-1 Stevenage

    Oxford have bossed this for the most part and had the best of the chances and that strong penalty appeal turned down, however Stevenage look threatening whenever they do get into the final third and, dare I say, Oxford look a little nervy at the back.

    It's Boro who are on the front foot for now.

  4. 'A blow for Oxford'published at 20:33 British Summer Time 19 April

    Oxford 0-1 Stevenage

    Peter Rhoades-Brown
    Former Oxford and Chelsea winger on BBC Radio Oxford

    That could be a blow for Oxford, that could be telling. That was awful; bad timing, against the run of play.

    Oxford got caught out defending.

  5. goal

    GOAL: Oxford 0-1 Stevenagepublished at 32 mins

    Sam Long (og)

    Stevenage celebrate scoringImage source, Rex Features

    Well, well, well...

    The visitors have the lead, Oxford can only half-clear a deep corner and Nick Freeman darts to the byline on the left before pulling back into middle towards Kane Hemmings at the near post.

    Sam Long gets there first, trying to cut out the cross but his body position is all wrong and he can only succeed in bouncing the ball off his shoulder, into the ground and inside the post past his helpless keeper. Not one he'll want to watch back.

    This is not going to plan for Oxford.

  6. 'Can't see anything but a penalty'published at 20:30 British Summer Time 19 April

    Oxford 0-0 Stevenage

    Peter Rhoades-Brown
    Former Oxford and Chelsea winger on BBC Radio Oxford

    I've just looked at that challenge in slow motion and you can't see anything but a penalty. Slightly aggrieved... very aggrieved. Oxford have got to get on with it now.

  7. PENALTY APPEALpublished at 26 mins

    Oxford 0-0 Stevenage

    Surely that should have been a penalty?!

    Ruben Rodrigues threads an inch-perfect slide-rule pass through the defence for Marcus Browne to run onto down the right of the area, Boro keeper Craig MacGillivray flies off his line and wipes out the right-winger. I'm not sure he got much of the ball...

    No VAR in League One, of course, but that would have been one of its easier decisions I feel.

    Oxford are incensed but have to settle for a corner, which comes to nought.

  8. Postpublished at 24 mins

    Oxford 0-0 Stevenage

    The three-sided Kassam is one of the more unique sights in English football.

    It's been open well over 20 years now but the view of rows of parked cars behind the goal at one end still evokes memories of Stamford Bridge in the early-90s.

    Oxford winger Josh Murphy has another sight of goal after some dogged work from Tyler Goodrham on the edge of the box but can only bend a low shot well wide from 20 yards.

  9. CLOSE!published at 18 mins

    Oxford 0-0 Stevenage

    Oxford's Marcus Browne goes down in a heap after a thunderous challenge with Jordan Thompson in the centre circle. Nothing doing, says the ref Tom Nield. Browne gets up and walks it off.

    Oxford play on and win a corner on the left but Sam Long can only glance a downward header wide at the far post.

  10. 'Great noise at the Kassam'published at 20:18 British Summer Time 19 April

    Oxford 0-0 Stevenage

    Peter Rhoades-Brown
    Former Oxford and Chelsea winger on BBC Radio Oxford

    Great noise here at the Kassam.

    Oxford are in charge of the game - a couple of chances here and there but nothing too clear cut.

    The home fans have also been making their feelings clear about the decision to scrap FA Cup replays...

    Oxford fansImage source, Rex Features
  11. GREAT SAVE!published at 14 mins

    Oxford 0-0 Stevenage

    Josh Murphy has the first attempt of the game, finding a yard of space outside the area and fizzing in a low drive which Craig MacGillivray does well to clutch down low to his right. Any fumble there and it was a sure-fire opening goal.

  12. Postpublished at 10 mins

    Oxford 0-0 Stevenage

    A lovely warm round of applause from the home fans as a picture of young Us fan Kyle Andrews appears on the screen.

    Andrews has battled bravely to overcome a nasty illness and is attending the game with his family as a guest of Oxford skipper Cameron Brannagan.

    The little lad is beaming away in his yellow Us cap.

    'One of our own,' says the caption.

    Wholesome stuff.

  13. YELLOW CARDpublished at 9 mins

    Oxford 0-0 Stevenage

    Terence Vancooten has his name taken inside the opening 10 minutes after getting a firm hold of Us frontman Mark Harris and not letting go as he tried to spin him.

    The WWE might come calling if the professional football thing doesn't work out...

  14. Postpublished at 8 mins

    Oxford 0-0 Stevenage

    A few stray passes creeping in, from both sides, a sign of the nerves which are surely floating about with so much at stake tonight?

    The business end of the season... gotta love it.

    Stevenage interim boss Alex Revell on the touchlineImage source, Rex Features
  15. 'The shackles are off'published at 20:08 British Summer Time 19 April

    Oxford 0-0 Stevenage

    Peter Rhoades-Brown
    Former Oxford and Chelsea winger on BBC Radio Oxford

    Good game so far. It's going to be both ends - both teams can play. The shackles are off and Oxford know they need to win tonight.

    It's a lovely atmosphere down at the away side considering Stevenage have only brought 300 fans.

  16. Postpublished at 4 mins

    Oxford 0-0 Stevenage

    Just for a moment the ball landed at the feet of Jamie Reid, Stevenage's 22-goal frontman, but he was unable to bustle his way into enough room to get a shot off.

    A real buzz when he gets on the ball though, and he did break the deadlock when these sides met at the Lamex in September - though the Us roared back to win 3-1.

  17. Postpublished at 2 mins

    Oxford 0-0 Stevenage

    The visitors have the first opportunity to send in a free-kick from deep but Harvey White's cross is dealt with by the Us defence, who will need to keep an eye on Boro skipper Carl Piergianni from set-pieces tonight, that's for sure.

  18. KICK-OFFpublished at 1 mins

    Oxford 0-0 Stevenage

    Away we go at the Kassam...

  19. Teams are out...published at 19:58 British Summer Time 19 April

    Oxford v Stevenage (20:00 BST)

    The first instalment of SEVEN STRAIGHT DAYS of EFL madness is upon us, you lucky, lucky people.

    Strap in. I doubt it'll be quiet...

  20. get involved

    Get Involved - Who is going up?published at 19:57 British Summer Time 19 April

    Get in touch using #bbcefl, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply).

    Fans of several teams will have more than half an eye on this game tonight as it has such big play-off implications in League One.

    Who do you think will take the final promotion spot and who will make-up the four play-off semi-finalists? Join our community and let us know using the #bbcefl hashtag on X, formerly known as twitter, and we'll share the best ones right here.